The Simpson Fountain on Chapel Street You May Never Have Noticed #Liverpool
Liverpool is a city with countless different nooks and crannies, filled with all sorts of things that many people barely even realise are there.
Such is the nature of the city, you could easily walk around the place and pass a statue or a building with huge historical significance that you’ve never noticed.
One such example is the Simpson Fountain, which is located in quite a prominent position and yet many won’t be aware of the fact that there is actually an inspiring story related to it.
The question is, what is the story and why should the ordinary people of Liverpool care?
William Shaw Simpson
In the 19th century, Liverpool was still a relatively young city, only slowly forging its place in Great Britain as a whole and the wider world beyond it. There were numerous different characters who came to the fore during the period, with William Shaw Simpson being one such example.
The philanthropist and fundraiser was actually born in Lancaster on the 18th of June 1829, moving with his father to Liverpool as a youngster when his dad managed the old Zoological Gardens on West Derby Road. His father died when he was young, leaving William to spend his life working in the service of others.
In the April of 1877, William Shaw Simpson took over a refreshment stall that was located on Liverpool’s Princes Landing Stage, where he could watch and interact with thousands of ferry passengers on a daily basis.
A firm believer in the idea of temperance, which is the idea of self-restraint and includes restraining from drinking alcohol, Simpson sold tea and snacks and used his stall to fundraise. There was a large bowl outside of his stall for donations, which became well known to Liverpool’s residents and was given the nickname of being the ‘Simpson Bowl’.
Making His Voice Heard
Simpson was someone who loved the underdog and was always keen to help their causes. In 1877, when the India famine was at its height, he raised £203 for the cause, which was the equivalent of a small fortune at the time. The likes of the South Wales miners, who went on strike, and the Irish Distress fund were other causes that Simpson looked to help.
He was someone who had a voice and knew how to use it, going so far as to run for Parliament in 1873 and campaigning to represent the working man. He lost, but remained resolute, popular with Liverpudlians.
That was largely thanks to the fact that he was known for his generous acts, which he carried out on an almost daily basis. The 1873 run for Parliament wasn’t the only time that he attempted to get elected, nor was it the only occasion when he narrowly missed out on being able to represent others.
Although he never won election, he was someone who was well known to those who used to travel through the docks, as well as those that worked there, thanks to the fact that he seemed to be determined to spend his life working on behalf of other people, rather than only looking out for himself.
The Chapel Street Fountain
In 1882, Simpson was travelling with his daughter when he was badly injured after being thrown from his trap. On the 18th of June 1883, the day of his 54th birthday, he finally succumbed to his injuries and died. The city was saddened by his passing, with the streets lined with people gathering to pay their respects as his funeral procession passed by.
It didn’t take long before the idea for a memorial began to take shape, with those that appreciated what Simpson had done for others keen to ensure that his name lived on long past the period of his life and subsequent death.
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A public subscription was used in order to have a drinking fountain commissioned, built into the wall of St Nicholas Church, which was located close to where his old refreshment stall had been located. It was designed in a Gothic style, with the project being overseen by Liverpool architect Thomas Cox.
A large bronze medallion of Simpson’s face sits in the middle, remaining in place for more than 100 years and still visible to people who walk along the Strand and past Chapel Street. It was given Grade II listed status, sitting as a reminder of the city’s history and one of its greatest characters.
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Although no water flows from it any longer, the weathered fountain is still an excellent representation of the generosity of both the man himself and those who lived in the city that he was so inspired by.
The post The Simpson Fountain on Chapel Street You May Never Have Noticed first appeared on Scouse Not English.
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