August 2011

Who are the 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.

Hospital Fountain to receive the 5^th St Werstan Award with an overall score on 77.5%

Following the recent ballot of Friends regarding the relocation of Hospital Fountain, we are pleased to announce that based on Friends feedback, the water feature will receive the award. The findings of the ballot were as follows:   

Preservation 67% Environment Enhancement 87% Public Accessibility 52%  Provenance 80% Maintenance 92% General WOW Factor 77%

As the overall result is well above the theoretical mean, the site qualifies for the St Werstan Award.

One particular Friend, formerly on the Planning Committee, commented that for many years he had advocated the conservation of the water feature and was delighted to read that it had been successfully relocated in the new Malvern Community Hospital in Malvern Link, which is sited opposite the Temperance Fountain.

Date of Award Presentation: 2.30 Friday 12 Aug. Call Cora if you would like to attend.

See our web site for more on the St Werstan Awards.

Perseus and Andromeda Fountain

About 11 miles north of the Malvern Hills lies Great Witley and the ruins of the Victorian country house Witley Court. The house has a long history, culminating in the era of the Foley family when it was a popular retreat of Edward VII.  Today it is in ruins, following a tragic fire and years of neglect and vandalism. Fortunately the extensive ruins and grounds are under the care of English Heritage. The jewel in the crown is the magnificent fountain that has, this century, been restored and rewatered.  Although outside our usual area of operation, colleagues from Malvern have been involved in the extensive effort required to bring the fountain back to life. Many will recall the local lectures of Felix Gameson in the 1990s, when he gave Malvern audiences insights into Derbyshire Well Dressing.  This in turn gave inspiration for the founding of Malvern Well Decorating by Cora in 1993.  Felix was also active in generating interest and participated in the restoration of the fountains at Whitley Court. Now the Perseus and Andromeda Fountain can be seen in all its glory on the hour during the summer season. Its elaborate stonework and statues, enhanced with multiple water jets 50 feet high, make it stand out as a world class water feature, comparable with those of London and Rome.  And there is more - the magnificent Witley parish church, with its elaborate interior, is part of the same complex.  There is even bottled Malvern Water in the cafeteria, while stocks last of course!  Details of what to see at Witley Court and its grounds can be obtained from English Heritage 01299 896636 or just set your sat-nav to WR6 6JT and explore the locality one sunny weekend.

Two Banged up for Tudor Theft.

In Newsletter 36 we described an incident when thieves were discovered raiding the recently sold Tudor Hotel of its copper plumbing.  We learned recently that two local, middle aged men with extensive criminal records have been sent to prison for several years for just such thieving from the Tudor Hotel last year.  It would appear that justice has prevailed. As a result we are all safer and more secure. A firm thank you to all involved in achieving this outcome.  The Tudor Hotel was Dr Gully's famous Victorian water cure establishment but has subsequently suffered lamentable misfortune. It has an interesting kitchen well in the basement and a prolific source of natural water in the grounds. In February 2010 the building was burning (see Newsletter 30). The pavement had collapsed at the southern end. It was in a badly deteriorated state both inside and out and there was even doubt as to its long term survival following the failure of the Danubius project to create a new modern spa within its curtilage.

Now we see the Tudor Hotel undergoing building work following a recent change of ownership. Perhaps a new, more prosperous future is in sight for this memorial to one of England's greatest water cure doctors.

Springs and Wells elsewhere - The Chalice Well at Glastonbury

The Chalice Well lies in a vale between Chalice Hill and Glastonbury Tor.  It is easy walking distance from the town centre and worth a visit if you are in the area. Inevitably it's provenance is wrapped up in the myths and legends of ancient Glastonbury and the gardens that surround it are described as a place of sanctity, healing and peace. The well itself lies at the top of a modest valley that is clearly a place where spring water collects. Landscaping has resulted in a series of water features as the streamlet from the spring cascades down the valley.  Formerly known as the Red or Blood Spring, there is a noticeable staining of anything the water comes into contact with. The reddish brown colour indicates a chalybeate spring containing traces of iron. An alternative explanation is that it is stained by the blood of Christ after Joseph of Arimathea washed the cup used at the last supper in the spring. Open to visitors all year, the gardens include a shop where you can purchase books and memorabilia of your visit. There is an entrance fee to the gardens, which are run by the Chalice Well Trust. Like Malvern there is also local bottled water and the label showing Glastonbury Tor is illustrated. There is an interesting Victorian water tank alongside the gardens on the adjacent road.  Known as the White Spring, it is an example of water being contained for the supply of the community in former times. People fill up containers from water running from a spout in the wall of the gardens opposite the White Well Reservoir. It all goes to indicate that spring water abounds in this locality and has both secular and religious applications.

Picture: No, it's not Joseph of Arimathea, just Bruce in the Chalice Well gardens.

Wilson's Fountain

Picture: Wilson's Gravestone toppled in the interests of health and safety - restored upright after we made representations to the Council.

There is a proposal to put a new monument on the site of Dr Wilson's Fountain. Dr Wilson was one of the famous water cure doctors in the 19^th century and an elaborate fountain erected to commemorate him after his death was removed in the post war years, when it suffered decay and neglect. The new proposal comprises a three sided stone structure, higher than a man, with interpretation panels on the sides.  The problem is that the Wilson Fountain site is not in the town centre. Dr Wilson already has a monument in the churchyard and few people pilgrimage there to discover it. In fact it nearly met its end some years ago when it was toppled for health and safety reasons. What the new proposal therefore needs is a marketing proposition. Why should people find their way to the monument when there is so much to see nearer town, for example Wilson's hydro the Establishment Building? The proposal needs some WOW factor to lure people to it. Will the new proposal need to be toppled for safety reasons before people notice it, like his fountain and gravestone? If you have any ideas do let us know.

Misleading Slip-ups Awards

 

This time the award goes to local historians who have perpetuated the myth that the Hay Well Baths were built over by the Baptist Church. The Bath House was a major part of the hydrotherapy infrastructure in Victorian Malvern and being near the town centre was popular with water cure visitors. As a result of detailed investigation for our forthcoming book 'Celebrated Springs of the Malvern Hills' we are able to give more detail, but with a devastating conclusion. According to original documents, the building was initially a two storey structure, but a third storey was added. A plan has survived of the layout, which included Men's and Women's facilities and the Agnes Well.  It was of red brick and included a basement with arched access on the northern side.  We have also learnt that the building was behind Warwick House and survived, not until the building of the Baptist Church as we originally thought, but until recently. When the area was redeveloped in the year 2000 the Hay Well Baths building, which was still intact, was demolished with little concern for its historic importance to Malvern. Why was this so? Because everyone assumed that the building was demolished when the Baptist Church was built in 1886. How important it is to get the facts right so that Malvern's heritage can be properly appreciated, recorded and conserved.

Picture - the upper storeys of the Hay Well Baths building (left) during the building works of 2000 prior to demolition. (courtesy Mark Baker)

Malvern's Mount Rushmore - some of the suggestions received after our article in the last Newsletter and similar editorial in the Malvern Gazette.

So two recognisable faces are needed; Nigel Kennedy and Cher Lloyd? The face of Cher Lloyd could be stuck on with velcro so can be easily removed after she's had her 15 minutes of fame.

maybe it will have to be people from history.. recent or ancient, Haile Selassie, Bernard Shaw or Caractacus for example. What about the hermit who lived up near or at St Ann's Well?

I don't think anyone would deny that the most famous, most recognisable 'face' associated with Malvern is Edward Elgar, so instead of padding out the monument with relatively unknown faces, the effigy of Elgar could be made full-body. Due to health & safety it would be safer, quicker, cheaper and easier to make the statue in a studio and fix it into position on site,

A fun idea! To name but two: how about H G Morgan, Dyson Perrins

Much of the debate appears to be about whether you use already famous people and make them more famous or whether you use relatively obscure individuals, whose contribution to the town is often unrecognised, and elevate them to fame?

Religion and Malvern Springs

In our last Newsletter we asked for readers opinions on religious attribution of water features that had historically been secular. A Friend wrote:

'You asked for the readers' views in no 37 on the new pseudo-religious names that people seem to be giving to the Malvern springs and wells.  As this will indeed be misleading to future generations, who may read into these erroneous names something totally inaccurate, I am thoroughly against the invention of such concepts.  Simplicity and truth should be behind the relaying of all historical facts, with no fanciful inventions to suit the imaginations of a minority.'

Dr Jacob's Fountain

In Newsletter 29 that we raised the plight of Dr Jacob's Fountain at the Malvern Theatres. We are pleased to be able to report that Coca Cola have recently made a donation towards the restoration project and so we should see progress in due course with bringing this artefact back to former glory.

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