Honeyfield Fountain (1907)

The Honeyfield Fountain is located in Regina Place (once known as "The Esplanade") which now forms part of the coastal walkway.

The fountain was donated to the city by a former resident, Mrs Alice Honeyfield. It was built in 1907 by Christchurch monumental mason Mr. G.W.J. Parsons and installed by the local stonemason, William Short.

The Honeyfield Fountain was formally handed over to the borough on 14 November 1907 by Mr W.L. Newman on behalf of Mrs Honeyfield, who was travelling overseas at the time. It was described at the time as, "an ornamental structure standing on a concrete base of two steps and a step of blue stone. The fountain's base is of dressed Maitland free stone, and the pillars of Aberdeen granite. The basin is of white marble. The whole is surmounted by a large lamp. The lamp contains three 32-c.p. electric lights."

The fountain was seen as a very welcome addition to the "Esplanade" and even in 1907 the potential of the foreshore was apparent. Mr Newman commented at the opening, "the residents should not rest until they had extended the esplanade to the breakwater".

In the early 1970s there was some discussion about moving the fountain as the harsh coastal location was damaging the structure. However, strong local opposition to idea surfaced and it has remained in its original position.

In 2006 it was temporarily dismantled and conserved, before being reinstalled in time for its centenary in 2007.

In the early hours of 27 April 2013 a stolen Honda City, driven by a 15-year-old youth, crashed through the fence at the end of Dawson Street almost completely destroying the Honeyfield Fountain.

Restoration work was carried out by Stone Conservation Ltd, Auckland and the fountain was reinstalled on 28 February 2014.

Further reading: Honeyfield Fountain, Mike Merrick, Self-published (2008). (TRCT929.2 HON)

Related items:

The Town's Attractions - Editorial (Taranaki Herald 15 November 1907)

Seafront Walk: Care of the Esplanade (Taranaki Herald 17 December1940)

Who was she? (Taranaki Herald 8 December 1973)

Fountain quandary- Editorial (Taranaki Herald 18 Dec 1973)

Honeyfield Fountain - is it a moveable object? (The Times 20 December 1993)

Council may move drinking fountain (Daily News 31 January 1995)

Council to move Honeyfield Fountain (Daily News 22 February 1995)

Condition And Remedial Action Report, Ian Bowman (2003)

Merrick urges restoration of fountain on coastal walkway (Taranaki Daily News 25 June 2004)