This Victorian gem, known as The Fountains, stood in Paarl Main Road, on the south-east corner of Auret Street, where the BMW showroom now stands. Demolished many years ago, it was surrounded by oak trees, many of them lining the Main Road. The Drakenstein Heritage Foundation has an annual award in memory of Ivan Deacon for the replanting of oak trees, especially along Main Road. The request to plant trees on this corner has been refused by the municipality, which is concerned about the underground infrastructure. At a later stage a round table replaced the fountain which stood in front of the previous BMW showroom, where The Fountain house used to be. This was removed during the latest renovations, and the public pavement is now used by a business to display its stock, something that occurred without the approval of the municipality. Much of the original landscape of Paarl Main Road, particularly here on this corner, has been destroyed. Photo: Gribbel Collection/Paarl Heemkring
