September 2010

Who are our Friends? Friends promote research, conservation and celebration of the Springs, Spouts, Fountains and Holy Wells of the Malvern Hills and of Great Malvern as a Spa Town.

Winter Gardens Surprise

Dr Jacob's fountain in the Winter Gardens is now receiving some attention and we hope to update you on details shortly. In the meantime have a look at our Boot Sale surprise. Two identical ribbon plates were purchased at a recent sale merely because they were inexpensive. Each is about 8 inches wide and typical of 1920s ware. The picture is captioned 'A Present from Great Malvern'  and 'Winter Gardens, Priory Park'. Later, closer examination revealed a rather unusual illustration of the Winter Gardens which opened in 1924. Our conclusion is that the plates were prepared in advance of the opening and the artist drew what he saw at the time but included detail from the architects drawings because the actual building was probably still unfinished.  On the right you can see the reception entrance which originally had a rather ordinary spring water drinking fountain. This was shortly afterwards replaced by the grand Jacob Memorial Fountain, now relegated to a corner and missing its original plinth.

Florence Nightingale: The Respectable Rebel

In the last newsletter Friends were invited to Malvern Museum's Nightingale lecture. Several Friends were among the captivated audience in the grandest of settings, the Priory Church on 13th August for Lucy Adlington's centenary tribute to Florence Nightingale (12th May 1820 - 13th August 1910). No-one in the audience had heard of History Wardrobe - now no-one will forget History Wardrobe, a group that interprets history through the medium of costume.

Who would have thought that keeping up with nineteenth-century fashions could take up so much time. For women, beginning with the undergarments, there were the drawers (if they wore them at all); the lacing up of the stays; several petticoats, stockings, and then the top layers with their buttons and collars and cuffs and laces, hairpieces and boots. One's wardrobe had to be perfect before stepping into polite society.

Florence Nightingale observed that the problem with the water cure was that it took up so much time, and much of that might be put down to the constant dressing and undressing that each treatment required. No wonder the percipient Dr Gully insisted that his male and female patients be treated in different establishments. He said that if they were treated together they would waste too much time trying to make themselves look beautiful for the opposite sex.  Small wonder there were no bands in the park and other modes of entertainment in Malvern for the water curists. There was no time to enjoy such things, what with the various treatments based on Malvern spring water, indulging in fresh air and exercise, and getting their clothes off and on.

Following the Crimea War and an initial treatment by Dr Gully, Florence Nightingale continued to visit Malvern, but not to see Dr Gully. On her numerous visits she stayed with Dr Johnson's son Walter at Malvernbury, his hydropathic establishment in Abbey Road. There seemed to be just the right amount of spring water at Malvernbury - enough for domestic purposes, hydropathic baths, and ornamental fountains in Dr Walter's extensive and well-laid-out gardens. Malvernbury was demolished in 1907 and replaced with the present Arts and Crafts house. The baths have also gone, but the spring water that may have saved Florence Nightingale's life still courses downhill through underground pipes.

On 14 August, Malvern Civic Society unveiled a blue plaque on the present day Malvernberry commemorating Florence Nightingale's association with the site.

Cora Collects Cash

Malvern, Arkansas, gateway town to the Hot Springs National Park, USA, has inspired Cora to collect money. In Newsletter 31 we covered the launch of the series of US quarter dollar coins that featured their national parks. The first to be launched was in April 2010 with new coins being minted over the next ten years to make 56 in total eventually. The first in the series was Hot Springs, being the oldest protected area. Rather like the Malvern Hills in England and our springs and wells. Bitten by the bug Cora is going for collecting the lot and after acquiring a unique collector board, she now has another good reason to fly the Atlantic regularly. Will she be taking a Mulberry Tree sapling on her next trip? (see Newsletter 32)

Can you help?

We are on the search for a mysterious fountain at Link Top. Do you recall it or have a picture? Apparently there was a white stone drinking fountain in the vicinity of Link Top within living memory. It is described as a circular basin about waist height, with a central pillar. The central pillar had two spouts and a ball on the top. To operate the spouts you pressed a circular foot treadle beneath the basin. (see sketch)

Several times we've read complaints in the local newspaper that Malvern Water is nowhere to be found in our shops when we want a refreshing, healthy summer drink. But don't worry - you can now collect Malvern water from the factory, and at a favourable price. This is brilliant if you're having a summer barbecue, birthday party or any other function. It's ideal for children and drivers, and an easy way for your guests from outside the area to sample our natural local product. A bottle of water is the best way to cool down when you're dancing the night away; it's handbag handy for trailing round steamy cities when the weather's that dreamy traditional summer weather we dream about; and it's great for the beach. And the label's a great advertisement for the town we're so proud of and lucky to live in! For prices call Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd, The Springs, Walwyn Road, Colwall, Malvern WR13 6QQ Tel: 01684 540613

For details of packs and prices also see our web site www.malvernspa.com

The 12 Springs Spouts Fountains and Holy Wells of Egio

Greece continues to be one of those countries that does not need a guide map to the local springs and fountains because they are all in one place! This set of twelve spouts was spotted at Egio (Aiyio) by a friend who had just taken the ferry from the mainland at Agios Nikolaos.

New Book on Music at the 19^th century Spa - why was Malvern missed?

A friend has written:-  Have you come across Ian Bradley's, Water Music: Making Music in the Spas of Europe and North America (OUP, 2010). Saw a brief mention of it - and blow me down, it's already on Google Books, There are chapters on Bath and Buxton but alas, not Malvern. How could he?

Blind George started playing in the 1880s, when the water cure was already done & dusted. I suppose you could say he was playing for the climatic cure patients, though. Once the Assembly Rooms opened there were heaps of concerts, but that was also 1880s onwards.

No wonder visiting the springs and wells was a popular recreation with the 19^th century curists!

Malvern Gardens Fountain Mystery solved but new mystery emerges

In our last Friends Newsletter we printed a picture of a fountain from Malvern Gardens and asked if anyone knew about it. The Malvern Gazette also assisted by publishing the picture and inviting readers to email any information they could provide. As a result it looks as if we have now resolved the provenance of the mystery fountain. Several people contacted us including two Malvern historians and two from our Australian circulation. Apparently Malvern Gardens is in Malvern Australia, which is where the second generation George Bernard Shaw Mulberry Tree grows!

There is more; like Malvern England there is spring water. The area had been a water reservation since 1856. The natural spring, used by the Wurundjeri people prior to European settlement, supplied the developing suburb with water before a formal water supply scheme was implemented in 1869. In 1885 the government intended auctioning the land, but a public protest caused it to be secured for public use. The public reserve, which included 8 acres of land, was thereafter secured for the community of Malvern, leading to the formal development as the park.

The new question that arises is was the Malvern, Victoria fountain design influenced in any way by what was happening in Malvern, England, where there was a fountain that certainly had similarities in Promenade Gardens? It is known that there were visitors from Malvern Australia in the early 20^th century to Malvern, England. Cora is on the case and we will report any further discoveries.

Now known as Stonnington, Malvern in Australia are our partners in the Mulberry Tree project.

Our thanks to Dr Peter May of Daylesford who gave us the first response to our original enquiry. A copy of Aquae Malvernensis will be on its way to him shortly. Also to Di  Foster, local historian of Malvern, Australia for supplying background information. Both are overseas Friends who receive the Newsletter and are participant in the Mulberry Tree project. Thanks also to Brian Iles and Roger Hall-Jones who contributed to the fact finding mission. The picture this time is a more recent shot of the fountain in Malvern Gardens, Victoria, Australia.

It's grewsome - have another look, it's grew some more!

There is a certain sense of rivalry amongst the custodians of the six George Bernard Shaw Mulberrry Trees from Australia, now being carefully nurtured for the Priory Park spring site when one is large enough. Rachel has just sent us this picture of her tree Bernadette after trying to convince us that it was about four feet high! Rachel is a tall lady and so sorry Rachel, we now believe you. Well done.

STOP PRESS - Rachel has just informed us that Bernadette put on another 20cm in the month following when the picture was taken.

For the background to this project visit the Mulberry Tree web site by clicking on WEB SITE INDEX on the green panel top left

and then clicking on the entry link.

1) TOPOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:

3) INFORMATION CATEGORY: