Location: on the western side of West Malvern Road just down the bank.
Description: a pipe yielding spring water adjacent to a large tree.

There is a seasonal spring on the open common at the north side of Beacon Lodge, West Malvern Road and a new ornamental well in the house's garden may be linked with this source. Nearby is the site of an electric pump that once pumped the water up to the cafe on the summit of the Worcestershire Beacon. The pump was replaced in 1972 when a new pump and storage tank were built higher up the hill, near the Beacon cafe, following complaints that the pump here was noisy. The cafe burned down in late January 1989, possibly the result of an electrical fault. A clause in the Malvern Hills Bill of 1993 sought to have the cafe replaced but the clause was rejected by the House of Lords so, controversially, the cafe was not replaced. The decision was welcomed by some while others bemoaned the loss of the friendly refreshment stop after a hard climb.

 

Higher on the hills, behind Beacon Lodge stands Hillside Cottage. This was believed to have once been the laundry for the Hillside school (see Hillside Spring) and has extensive underground works related to the utilisation of the local spring water. There is a well, near the water pump shed, and nearby there is a substantial 5000 gallon underground cistern that is still in use. There is also an attractive modern water garden that is fed by spring water.

On the opposite side of the main road is an unnoticed spout nestling in the grassy bank which is believed to be an outfall from the Beacon Spring.


Illustrations:

1. The garden pool, fed by spring water, at Hillside Cottage.

2. The source across the road from Beacon House, since this picture was taken the tree has crushed the pipe somewhat.
3. Visitors to the former Beacon Cafe with its camera obscura. The picture was taken in 1897. Since the cafe was burnt down there has been much public debate as to whether it should be reinstated however the Gateway project at the Mount Pleasant Hotel is believed to offer a better proposition for visitors. (Do a keyword search for 'Gateway' for further details)

 

 

  

The map alongside is a small section of our more comprehensive map of the area. For the complete map together with a description and history of this site see "Celebrated Springs of the Malvern Hills" (2012).

 

Click on Website below or the top banner to go to the DISCOVERY TRAIL INDEX of springs and wells.

Celebrated Springs of 
THE MALVERN HILLS  

A definitive work that is the culmination of 20 years researching the springs and wells of the Malvern Hills, published by Phillimore. This is the ideal explorers guide enabling the reader to discover the location and often the astounding and long forgotten history of over 130 celebrated springs and wells sites around the Malvern Hills. The book is hard back with dust cover, large quarto size with lavish illustrations and extended text. Celebrated Springs contains about 200 illustrations and well researched text over a similar number of pages, together with seven area maps to guide the explorer to the locations around the Malvern Hills. It also includes details on the long history of bottling water in the Malvern Hills.

Written by Bruce Osborne and Cora Weaver, this book is available on-line for £15.00 (delivered UK) - click Malvern Bookshop on the green panel top left. Alternatively send a cheque payable to Cora Weaver with your name and address to 4 Hall Green, Malvern, Worcs. WR14 3QX.