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Public drinking fountain situated on a sloping site in the centre of the village of Dobcross. The pedestal of the fountain, faced with panels of polished Aberdeen granite, rises into a pointed finial.This was originally surmounted by an ornate lamp standard, originally lit by gas. As well as a drinking fountain for humans, there was also a trough for animals.

The idea of erecting a memorial to Ramsden was discussed shortly after his death. A committee, chaired by Rev. Harry Edwards of Holy Trinity, Dobcross, was formed and decided that the memorial should take the form of a drinking fountain. Ramsden himself had expressed support for such an amenity to be installed in the district during his lifetime. After a hesitant start, a total of £190-2s- 10d was collected from the villages of Saddleworth. The centre of Dobcross, the village in which Ramsden had lived, was selected as the site for the memorial. This required the removal of the large lamp which occupied the site. The fountain was designed for use by both human and animals. The Ashton District Waterworks Company agreed to supply the water free of charge. Saddleworth's first public monument was unveiled by Miss Brierley who declared Ramsden to be a man 'who had made England what she is, and Saddleworth had good reason to be proud of him.' The ceremony attracted the usual large crowd. The fountain was renovated in the 1970s, electric lighting replacing the original gas.

Walter Henry Fox Ramsden was born in Oldham in 1833. He trained as a doctor in London and returned to Oldham to practice medicine. In 1864 he moved to Saddleworth having purchased the practice of Dr. Beckett Bradbury in Dobcross. In the following years the unselfish (and sometimes unpaid) medical assistance he provided to the working people of Saddleworth was widely appreciated. He became a prominent figure in the community and for some 25 years was Saddleworth's Medical Officer of Health. Although essentially a country doctor his interest in medicine led him to publish articles in the national medical press. Walter Ramsden died in June 1900

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At risk

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305 cm high