NHER 56534 (Monument record) - Clement Scott memorial fountain and drinking trough

Clement Scott memorial fountain and drinking trough.
A grey granite drinking fountain and cattle trough, inscribed "To Clement Scott who by his pen immortalised ‘Poppyland’. Erected by many friends November 1909".

Clement Scott (1841-1904) was an influential English theatre critic for the Daily Telegraph as well as a playwright and travel writer. In 1883, the Daily Telegraph printed an article which he had written about a visit to the north Norfolk coast. He became enamoured of the district and gave it the name Poppyland. His writing was responsible for members of the London theatre set visiting and investing in homes in the area.

Located on the road between Cromer and Overstrand, this memorial was placed at what was perceived to be the entrance to "Poppyland." It was erected by Louie Jermy and friends, the Clement Scott Memorial Fund and the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association (founded in Norfolk in 1859) on land donated by Lord Suffield. At the time there was considerable local opposition to it, as reported in the local press (see S7 to S18).

Local museum staff [1] have commented that the trough was kept clean and filled with flowers throughout the 1980s and 1990s. However, since its construction, the memorial has suffered some alteration. The rear section, which housed the drinking fountain, has been replaced by a more crudely fashioned component made of concrete, of a quite different design to the original.

The fountain was submitted for consideration for National Designation (Listing) in 2012. Unfortunately, while the local significance of the memorial was acknowledged the application was ultimately rejected due to the extent of the unsympathetic modern restoration (see S2 and S3).

See (S1) to (S3) for HES research and designation applications.
See (S4) to (S6) for published works and websites on Clement Scott.
See (S7) to (S18) for historic press cuttings and (S19) for modern press cuttings.
See (S20) for historic photograph.
See (S21) for photographs from field observations.
Information compiled by D. Gurney (HES), 12 January 2012.
Updated H. Hamilton (HES), 28 April 2014.

January 2012. Field observation (visual assessment).
The trough was photographed during a site visit. No site notes were made.
See (S1) and (S21).
H. Hamilton (HES), 28 April 2014.