Talk on historic fountain
Hope springs eternal for New Plymouth’s historic Honeyfield Fountain, thanks to amateur social historian, Mike Merrick.
The marble, sandstone, and wrought-iron structure in Regina Pl, on the Coastal Walkway, was donated by Alice Brown Honeyfield to the city in 1907. The story behind the fountain that has survived two world wars, a depression, a car crash and years of neglect is as interesting as its community-spirited benefactor.
Merrick intends raising public awareness of the part it played in the districts foreshore history. Come February 18, at 2pm, he will give an hour-long talk on the fountain at the bottom of Dawson Str, and everyone is invited. If it rains the talk will be post-poned to the following Sunday.
‘‘That’s why I’m giving a talk, I want to keep it alive and I’m going to do it every year that I’m alive and well enough to do it,’’ he said.
Merrick’s healthy obsession began in 2004, when he was one of three councillors of the day who formed the Friends of the Honeyfield Fountain to raise the $50,000 funds needed for its restoration, that took place three years later.
‘‘It’s been sitting there since 1907 and it gets pounded every day by sea salt so it was in a pretty bad way,’’ he said. ‘‘It was effectively brought back to life and it was just wonderful.’’
Merrick was sparked to find out just who Alice Honeyfield, born Alice Cotterell in 1844, actually was.
His research revealed the spinster who arrived in New Plymouth in 1880, marriedbusinessman Henry Honeyfield.The pair married at St Mary’s Church in 1884 and their childless marriage lasted until his death at the age of 68 years old.
Alice inherited the majority of his wealth after his death and even after moving to Sydney in 1908, she continued to be a generous benefactor to New Plymouth. Merrick said Alice was ahead of her time, she determined the location of the fountain, because she wanted to keep a focus on the walkway, formerly known as the Esplanade. Her vision to see it expand to the Breakwater and the Te Henui stream took nearly 100 years, but it happened.
‘‘I’m determined to make sure it never moves from where it is and that the council fulfils its obligations to maintain it,’’ he said.