Pic of the day. Thursday, August 21st

Richard Wyatt

It looks like the restoration of the ‘Rebecca at the Well’ drinking fountain could be getting underway.

Not the first time it’s had a cleanup, but it has been showing its age lately.

Erected by the Temperance Society, to make the point that water and not alcohol is best, this fine Grade 11 listed figure once faced off a whole collection of pubs!

Published by Richard Wyatt

Freelance Journalist, broadcaster, columnist and local historian. Director of Bath Newseum. Married and lives in Bath. Interested in local history, architecture and visual display in museums and urban spaces.

2 Comments

  1. It’s actually on the site of a pub – the Cross Keys. It was so notorious, the government tried to get it closed, but it belonged to the council, so they refused. When it was demolished in the clearance of houses next to the Abbey, it reopened on the other side of the road, only to be pulled down when the Guildhall wings were built. FUN FACT: when Rebecca was erected, lots of people complained. One writer to the Chron said he was sorry for the Rector if Bath Abbey, having this statue inflicted on him.

  2. Just hoping the work doesn’t take as long as the Corridor is doing. Showing visitors around as a guide I sometimes think half the city is ‘under repair’ – yet there’s often little sign of actual work being done☹️

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