Out & About …

… on the North York Moors, or wherever I happen to be.

Susanna Beever Drinking Fountain

An intriguing elaborate drinking fountain at almost the highest point on the Coniston to Hawkshead road. A Grade II listed building it is made of local slate and has two sections with a central pillar. The left-hand bay is a horse drinking trough with the inscription above:

A RIGHTEOUS MAN
REGARDETH THE LIFE
OF HIS BEAST

The right-hand section is a seat with the inscription above:

HE SENDETH THE
SPRINGS INTO THE
RIVERS WHICH RUN
AMONG THE HILLS

On the central pier is a cast iron drinking fountain with yet another inscription:

IN
MEMORIAM
ERECTED BY
SUSANNA BEEVER
1885

Susanna Beever lived all her life in Coniston and a “close” friend of the poet John Ruskin. But to whom is the fountain a memorial to? Susanna Beever was 80 in 1885, she died in 1893. John Ruskin died in 1900. If anyone knows more information I would love to know.

The fountain is easily missed if you’re rushing by by car. Cyclists have more chance. An otherwise dreich day in Lakeland with the remains of yesterday’s snow.





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2 responses to “Susanna Beever Drinking Fountain”

  1. Richard Fairhurst avatar
    Richard Fairhurst

    Just come across this picture of the Susannah Beever drinking fountain. She was a distant ancestor, born at Ardwick Hall Manchester the daughter of William Beever a merchant who made his fortune early in life and retired to ‘The Thwaite’ Coniston where he died around 1830. William was the son of John Beever and Anne Ridgway, it is through the Ridgway family I am connected. Susannah was a younger child of many siblings none of whom married, her brother John wrote an authoritative book on fly fishing, still available! The Beever’s were near neighbours of of John Ruskin with whom Susannah formed a close relationship, there are several references in her will to gifts from Ruskin, the true nature of this relationship is unknown although they are buried next to each other in Coniston churchyard by request of Ruskin.

    1. Fhithich avatar
      Fhithich

      Interesting, thanks.

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