Image ID: 04672

Children's Drinking Fountain, erected as a memorial to Newark girl, Ethel Harrison

Courtesy of Reg Baker

London Road
Newark on Trent
England

The fountain was built in 1908 in memory of an ordinary Newark girl, Ethel Harrison, who bravely sacrificed her own life in the course of saving a child. The story behind Ethel Harrison's selfless act so touched the hearts of the people of Newark that it was considered important to commemorate her sacrifice in some way. A public conscription was opened and after a year or so, the fountain was erected. The events surrounding Ethel Harrison's death are first recorded in an edition of the Newark Advertiser from December 1906 under the headline ' A heroic Newark nurse lays down her life for a child'. The subsequent article tells how 24 year old Ethel Harrison, the daughter of a former captain of the Newark fire brigade living in Cherry Holt Lane (now part of Sherwood Avenue) has been working as head nursemaid to the children of Mr and Mrs Anderson at Croughton, near Chester. Mr Anderson is described as a wealthy Liverpudlian merchant and it was the custom of nurse Harrison to take her three young charges out for a walk each day, often along the towpath of the Shropshire Union Canal where the children enjoyed watching the barges. On the particular day in question - December 7 1906 - 5 year old Jimmy Anderson broke away from nurse Harrison and her assistant, Louise Thompson, to throw stones into the canal in an attempt to induce one of the family's dogs to jump in and swim. As the dog refused to take the plunge, Jimmy's exertions became increasingly more exuberant and before either nurse could reach him, the child overbalanced and fell in. 'As soon as nurse Harrison saw what had happened' the Advertiser report continues, ' she rushed down and jumped into the water after him.. Meanwhile, the under nurse had got to the bankside where she received the little lad from nurse Harrison and pulled him safely out. The brave young woman, however, in the water, either through the sudden cold or the weight of clothing, was carried into the middle of the stream. She was in 12-16 ft of water and although she could swim a little, was evidently in difficulties.. She struggled for some time, reappeared twice and then finally sank. The agonised screams of the under-nurse attracted aid that came too late.' The body was recovered by the police and an inquest before the Cheshire Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death. The body was returned to Newark by rail and interred at Newark Cemetery on London Road, where a great crowd gathered to pay their last respects to the plucky Newark girl. Public feeling concerning the tragedy was certainly high in the town and it was suggested that some kind of memorial should be erected to commemorate Harrison's heroic act. A private committee was formed and donations invited for the erection of some kind of appropriate monument. The outcome was the children's drinking fountain which may now be seen at the junction of Baldertongate and London Road. The fountain was unveiled by Mayoress Mrs O Quibell in August 1908, who was also honoured in being allowed to take the first sip. Costing about

Date: 01/05/1981

Organisation Reference: NCCE000553

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