I photographed this in June 2016 but forgot to publish it until today 30 November 2023.

Back in 1990-91 minimal restoration work was done to the Calder Fountain before it was later relocated to its current location near the Lagan Weir. It is a small Classical monument to Lt Calder who built horse troughs and who established what was to become the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

It features the following text:

Erected by Public Subscription
As a memorial to the labours of
Francis Anderson Calder, Commander, R.N.

In the cause of humanity
And to whom is mainly to be attributed the erection,
between the years 1843 and 1855, of
ten watertroughs for the use of cattle in
Belfast.

"A righteous man regarded the life of his beast"

Erected by Public Subscription
In commemoration of
Francis Anderson Calder, Commander, R.N.,

Founder of the Belfast Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and for
twenty years its active Honorary Secretary.

"Blessed are the Merciful."

The Ulster Society for the Prevention Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) is the second oldest Animal Welfare Charity in the world. It was founded in 1836 by Commander Francis Anderson Calder, a retired navy officer, as the Belfast SPCA. The eventual name change from Belfast to Ulster SPCA acknowledged the scale, scope and success of the Charity’s expanded operations across the province.

The Charity’s first initiative was to erect water troughs across the city for the sustenance of the heavily burdened working horses in industrial Belfast. Just over a year after its inception the charity had successfully lobbied for the Act of Parliament ‘relating to the cruel and improper treatment of animals’ to be extended to Ireland.

The purpose of our founders to ‘Prevent Cruelty and Relieve Suffering’ remains as the driving force for our charitable activities today. Whilst there are heartless individuals willing to inflict unnecessary suffering on animals the need for a USPCA remains.