Some good news have made contact with the rangers at the Royal National Park and they have told me they are looking into finding the lost Troughs. Now a wait and see if there is any developments. Cheers George Gemmill
Disappointing to see these two histrolic water troughs unwanted and slowly being buried in the undergrowth in the Royal National Park NSW. Still there after i had visited them 3 years ago.
Charlton in Victoria is one town which has different type of Bills trough as it was made by local builder Sam O’Brien and i would believe it it would have been funded by the Bills Trust.
Located in Kaye Street at the rear of the Traffic Education Centre and pleased to say it is being well looked after by locals.
Good to see that the Wagga Wagga Riverina Museum is having a upgrade and that the Bills water Trough is being replace in a more proment position.I have had a number of inquires about that BHT lately. Here is a photo i took back in 2004 and now the BHT will become a show peice along with all the many other items which are on display at the Museum.
Note tyhat the BHts in NSW have got different panels one on each end and 4 on the back.
Thanks to David T for sending me these photos . hope you enjoy them . Cheers George Gemmill
The BHT which was once located in the Bendigo Council yard in Adams road was moved 5 years ago into the Bendigo Cemetery. My Son Neil is taking good care of it as he is the head gardener and works there.No need to worry about the plants in the trough as they are all in pots.
I have been making monthly entries into this site since 2007 and now finding it very difficult with my old computer and i am seeking have get some technical support.So hopefully i can keep on going .any one who would like to contact me can do so at billshorsetroughs@hotmail.com
Would like to say a big thanks to everyone who supported me over the years by sending me information Thank you all very much Cheers George Gemmill
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The plants in this trough are in their own pots
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This was the old location in Adams Road. at the council Yards.
Published in the Antiques Trade Gazette September 2019 is information about 8 stolen Victorian Animal troughs since September ..To find out more about this do a google search of the AntiQue Trade GazetteSeptember 2019 edition ./ Hope you are able to open and read the item . Cheers George
Since September 2019 troughs have been reported taken from areas in south London and Kent: Penge, Bell Green, Downham, Chislehurst, Coombe Lane and Widmore Green.
According to Kent Police, the latest theft was a 8ft x 2ft (2.4m x 61cm) trough taken between 3-6am on January 5 from the A26 London Road in Southborough, near Tunbridge Wells.
Like most municipal animal troughs it is inscribed with the name of a donor, in this case the name of Sir David L Salomons with the date 1894.
Photos from Google street view June 2019
A second trough was reported stolen from Eridge Road in Tunbridge Wells, but Kent Police has not yet logged its disappearance. It is inscribed George and Annis Bills – Australia to one side, and to the end Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association (MDFCTA).
Historian Alan Underwood has catalogued and created a database of many of the MDFCTA community troughs and has been helping to collate information about these thefts.
He said: “I first started researching the MDFCTA’s fountains and troughs about 15 years ago.
“I came across the remains of five that had been stolen in London over a period of about five years previously.
“To my best knowledge, in the intervening 15 or so years before September 2019, only one further trough (in Woolwich) has disappeared.
“What has triggered the current spate of thefts?”
Anyone with information on any of the thefts should call the police on 101.Regarding the Penge theft, use the police crime reference number 3320094/19, for Chislehurst use the number 3320566/19 and for Coombe Lane it is 3838235/19.
Regarding the Tunbridge Wells troughs, contact Kent Police on 01622 604100, quoting reference 5-0425.
Sad to learn that this Very early Bills Trough has been stolen and police are looking into it there has also been other troughs stolen and I will have more information in my next post . If any one seeks more information send me a email to billshorsetroughs@hotmail.com. Cheers George Gemmill
Bills horse troughs 