Fountain of Noupre

The pulley, well chain, windlass and crank are still clearly visible in this brick well.

After the introduction of the general water supply (around 1920/1925) the use of well construction disappeared .
A few decades ago, water was pumped and wells and their extraction points were an integral part of the landscape.
In many places, the fountain was a frequent informal meeting point for local residents (social contact).

People went to fetch water every day and then talked about all kinds of activities and talked about joys and sorrows in the family and in the neighborhood.
Municipal and associational problems were also often discussed .
A "well" (neighbouring club) was often formed due to the shared use of a well and special "economic" circumstances.
Luckily, the fountain itself survived in many places, becoming a lasting reminder of its drinking water past.

The water from the well was used for many purposes: drinking, cooking, dishes, watering for cattle, cleaning , etc.
In addition to these domestic purposes, water was and is also indispensable in industry.
Just think of breweries, tanneries, ice cream factories, lemonade factories, etc.
Wells or springs can also often be found in these places.

Willem Vandenameele