Schweppes 1951 Grotto - did it commemorate 100 years of bottling Malvern Water?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Willow at the Willow Spring

 

In January 1969 Conservators' Board member Mr Ballard suggested that a new willow tree should be planted at the Willow Spring. The Willow Spring was named because of the pollarded bay willow tree that once grew beside the spring. The bay willow is a small, native tree that grows in wet or boggy ground. There are several types of willow tree: this is the Salix Pentandra, a reference to the male flowers, which have five stamens.

 

The size of the tree in this 1845 etching suggests that it had been planted many years earlier. It was to the north-east of the spring; had it been to the south it would have provided shade to travellers and invalids who trekked there for a drink of Malvern's famous spring water.

 

The tree was probably pollarded to reduce the number of dead leaves around the spring. The tree may have fallen with age or, if regular pollarding had stopped, the weight of extra branches may have caused it to fall. Is it now time to reinstate a willow tree at the location? We hoped this would have been done as part of the Heritage Lottery Funding some years ago but not so.

 

Photograph - If a new tree were planted in the same position as the old one it would be too close to the road. Perhaps a new bay willow tree might be planted to the south or west, in memory of Malvern's water heritage.

 

 

A new expression has come into use amongst the springs and wells fraternity recently   What does it mean? Well, supermundane means "of or relating to what is elevated above earthly things". The expression supermundane springs and wells suggests that some sites have a spiritual presence that elevates them beyond the dimensions of everyday of life on earth. Which ones would this apply to?

 

The grotto at Davenham has a water source that suggests mythological associations, albeit man made. Also some holy wells have in the past been seen as places of pilgrimage for those who seek to follow ancient religious cults. Furthermore many Malvern springs and wells have reputedly ancient healing properties. Are these supermundane? 

 

Let us have your views please.

 

 

A Friend was walking recently on the east side of the hills, a little below the Worcestershire Beacon, and was amazed to see this gushing 'spring' blocking the footpath. Was this an opportunity to name a new spring on the hills? How about Cable Car Spring? However, a couple of traffic cones on the path suggested something different. Alas, the gush was coming from the reservoir above.