A Penny For Your Thoughts

This article in its  present form appeared on the City of Culture 2017 Volunteers Hub in June 2017, and also on Twitter on @HistoryHull also in June 2017. I've published here as I think it is easier to read and does the subject more justice.

 Flectchers Corner Fountain


Fletcher's Corner Fountain in Happier Times
Photo: Hull Daily Mail

With the opening of the new fountain in Queen Victoria Square recently, I would like to reminisce about one of Hull’s lost fountains, popular with old and young alike that stood for over 50 years in the city centre. The fountain in question stood in front of Fletchers bakery which was situated in King Edward Street and Jameson Street, opposite McDonalds and the former BHS. Fletchers was a bakery and delicatessen chain based in Hull and, what in today’s terminology would be called their flag ship store.

The fountain was built in the 1950’s and the centre piece was a mermaid statue from the former Botanical Gardens, which was situated in Spring Bank, dating back to 1840. The fountain was very popular, especially with children, myself included, for throwing in coins and making a wish, and within the first two years of the fountain being in operation over £2, 000 had been collected and was used to pay for an outing for the city’s senior citizens. New Year revellers used it as a paddling pool to celebrate the passing of the old year!

Faded Glory: the fountain before being demolished
Photo: ?

Sadly, during its last few years, the fountain became a target for litter and drunken escapades with bubble bath. The march of progress wasn’t kind to either the shop or the fountain, as the beginning of the twenty first century saw the closure of Fletchers and the eventual demolition of the fountain in 2005 to make way for an outdoor seating area for a branch of the coffee shop chain, Starbucks, which has since closed. The natural cosmetic firm Lush has now taken over the site but for Hull people it will always remain ‘Fletchers Corner’ and be synonymous with the fond memories associated with the fountain. The mermaid however is still in existence for she has found a new home in the Community Garden at the Western Library, on the Boulevard in West Hull.

At her new home at the Western Library, Hull
Photo: Hull Libraries





Words: Tracy Taylor (June 2017)

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