Dear friends in Bristol,
Part 2 of our fountains sightseeing tour will start at the old market place between Old Townhall and Marktkirche. The Marktbrunnen was designed by one of the most famous architekts of Hannover, Conrad Wilhelm Hase. The figures on the top of the fountain shows two marketwives. One of them has a watering can in her hand, she was trading with flowers. The other maid with the fish is a colleague of Sweet Molly Malone from Dublin, the wellknown fishmonger with her own song.
Only a few steps away we are reaching the Ballhofbrunnen, it is an “Aquamobile”. Three hollowballs are moved by the streaming water from above. Some more jets of water make the fountain complete, creating a wonderful romantic rippling watersound. When there is a performance in the nearby Ballhoftheatre it is possible to stop parts of the fountain. The seats around the fountain are made of Elbsandstone (near Dresden), they are very popular especially in the summertime ( when the weather is high – Mungo Jerry).
Another nice fountain we will see at the Holzmarkt. It is named “Oscar-Winter-Brunnen”. The fountain was erected in 1896 and was donated on the occasion of the 100-years-jubilee of the company of Oscar Winter who traded with iron. Therefore a smith with a big hammer is decorating the fountain. In 1900 the fountain got a pedestral of stone because the fountain was very often damaged by horse-drawn vehicles.
The last fountain in the old town that I will show you is the Schloß(Castle-)brunnen. It is situated opposite the Leineschloß which is the residence of the parliament of Lower Saxony.
We are leaving the old town and visit the Duve- or Sämann(sowing man)brunnen. Till the beginning of the second worldwar this fountain was located near the Neustädter Kirche in the municipal district “Calenberger Neustadt”. Johann Duve was a rich businessman in the 17th century. He gave money for the development of the Calenberger Neustadt. The open hand of the Sowing Man is the symbol for his donation for that project. Since 1952 this fountain has its place at the Leibnizufer, in the middle of that street.
At last a fountain with the very kind name “Fountain of hospitality”(Brunnen der Gastlichkeit). It was erected in 1973 near the Neustädter Kirche. The water fills a trough of stone, on it a dish with fruits of bronze. Around the fountain you will find three tables with (also in bronze) a bird, fish, vegetables, a bunch of grapes and cutlery. Please sit down on one of the stools and enjoy your meal (of course self-catering).
I hope reading this article you can forget your troubles for some minutes,
with best wishes from Hannover, in March I will send part 3,
Hans
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