Water Cooler Plant Pot

Practically every house here had one of these at one time.  At a neighbour's house I spied this one set in the patio but not with any flowers.  I loved the derelict look with the lichen and weeds.  Years ago, before water was piped to the house, the woman of the house had to make a short trek for water.  It would be brought back and tipped into one of these, kept in the coolest darkest place in the house.  The shape is supposed to keep the water cool somehow.  We have one but it is hidden under the stairs built into a square box so not photogenic.  One of our neighbours (who was born in our house) tells us he can remember the water being kept there and the chores to fill it when he was a child.