The original architects' drawings for the Victorian fountain at The Plain roundabout in East Oxford have been discovered.

The plans, thought to have been lost decades ago, were discovered at Oxford Town Hall among other archives.

Work is currently being carried out to restore the fountain, built in 1899, and the new information means the fountain can be renovated more accurately.

Oxford Preservation Trust director Debbie Dance, who is working with Oxford City Council on the restoration project, said: "We didn't think this information existed any more — we wanted it, but we thought it was lost.

"When we started the project we were relying completely on a photograph of the opening, so to find these drawings has been fantastic."

The drawings give details of what the weather vane at the top of the fountain originally looked like, and also show that the timber 'cupola' housing the clock was originally painted white.

Using the drawings, blacksmith Graham Parry is now re- creating a missing section to restore the weather vane, and the timber clock housing is being repainted to match the original.

Mrs Dance said: "If you are going to do a project like this, you have got to do it properly.

"It is going to look lovely when it is finished. It is a lovely building that people know, and everybody from the east side of Oxford sees it as they come into the city in the morning.

"I think it will make a huge difference and the whole area will feel much better for the improvements."

The fountain was constructed as a belated tribute for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, and was paid for by Oxford brewer George Morrell.

Plans to revamp it have been proposed three times, with campaigners hoping to get water running through the fountain again.

The idea to have water flowing was thrown out earlier this year after English Heritage warned it could damage the fabric of the monument.

Colin Cook, the city council's board member for city development, said: "The lack of accurate historical records is a significant impediment to many restoration projects.

"The rediscovery of the original drawings gives us a fantastic opportunity to recreate the original appearance of the fountain."

The new scheme was launch- ed by the council's east area parliament in 2007, which contributed £7,000 to the work.

It is also supported by the council, the preservation trust and Magdalen College.