There's a new addition to the historical collection at Willistead Manor: the Queen Victoria Fountain Replica Crown.
The Queen Victoria Fountain was originally erected in 1897 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Hiram Walker & Sons donated it to the town of Walkerville, and it was originally placed near the railway station.
The fountain was moved to Willistead Park in 1958 to ensure its preservation.
The replica of the Imperial Crown was created by members of the Willistead Manor Inc.'s board of directors, partnered with the Questers in Windsor.
Local historian and filmmaker Michael Evans commissioned local 3D modeller Justin Goulet to create the file of the crown. The crown also figures prominently in Evans' film "It Happened in Walkerville," which premiered at the Windsor International Film Festival in October 2024.
Manor Tool and Die Ltd. used Goulet's 3D file to produce the crown, and professional visual artist Nora Harvey added the finishing touches.
The fountain is made of limestone, copper, and bronze.
It used to sit on top of the fountain's copper roof, but will be on permanent display inside Willistead Manor.
