It is a fountain that was used as a public washhouse. The water is supplied by the Orco Torrent, arriving through a grate and pipe. The fountain was built around 1945. The land used to build it was granted to the Municipality by the Church (the owner of the homes and land in this location) in exchange for approximately four square metres at the Cemetery (owned by the Municipality) to bury the Curates of the town in a dedicated chapel. Previously, the Curates were traditionally laid to rest in individual graves with customary headstones.
In the past, each village or hamlet boasted its own washhouse, fountain and drinking trough. This is where people went to wash their clothes, fetch water for cooking, washing and to quench their thirst, and water their animals. From a community perspective, these places were vital social arenas where people met, talked and exchanged information. They epitomised a sense of communal identity and belonging to the territory. The flowing water symbolised the beating heart of the community, where the village was one big family.
