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The Belle Vue Pump and Crown Stables Well
NGR pump 77503 45877 well 77539 45893
Site Number: C117 & C118
By Bruce Osborne and Cora Weaver (C) 2012
Area 1. Malvern Town Centre Springs and Wells
Malvern Hills, England
Location: south end of Belle Vue Terrace, Great Malvern
Description: a Malvern water source supplying a Victorian hotel and outside an iron pump, now gone, together with a nearby stables well.
In 1884 some residents of Southfield, Malvern, were much in favour of having a new post-box erected in the town centre: 'It would be a great advantage if the authorities would set up a pillar-box at or near that spot opposite Mount Pleasant, where several roads meet and where there is now standing an iron pump, probably useful but certainly not ornamental.'[1]
In the nineteenth century, pumps such as this were common street furniture; they were considered practical but not attractive, just as street lights are today. This public pump was sunk outside the Crown Hotel where it would have been used for watering the horses bringing visitors to and from the hotel. It was installed some time after Malvern became a town in 1851, and picture postcards suggest that it was removed between 1905 and 1916. Belle Vue Terrace and the top of Church Street were completely remodeled in the hands of Mr Henry Maybury. The Council had appointed him as Surveyor and one of the tasks that he addressed was to reduce the difficulties for horse drawn carts using the Belle Vue Terrace area with its dangerous and awkward turns and steep roads. These problems led to horses slipping while pulling carts carrying stone or coal or other heavy items. It was generally considered that the improvements he carried out could not have been bettered. Maybury left Malvern to become County Surveyor for Kent and then during the First World War he organised Army roads in France with the rank of Brigadier. On his return he was knighted and become Director of the Road Board, later the Ministry of Transport.[2] The Belle Vue Pump was likely a result of his efforts in Malvern.
Description: a Malvern water source supplying a Victorian hotel and outside an iron pump, now gone, together with a nearby stables well.
In 1884 some residents of Southfield, Malvern, were much in favour of having a new post-box erected in the town centre: 'It would be a great advantage if the authorities would set up a pillar-box at or near that spot opposite Mount Pleasant, where several roads meet and where there is now standing an iron pump, probably useful but certainly not ornamental.'[1]
In the nineteenth century, pumps such as this were common street furniture; they were considered practical but not attractive, just as street lights are today. This public pump was sunk outside the Crown Hotel where it would have been used for watering the horses bringing visitors to and from the hotel. It was installed some time after Malvern became a town in 1851, and picture postcards suggest that it was removed between 1905 and 1916. Belle Vue Terrace and the top of Church Street were completely remodeled in the hands of Mr Henry Maybury. The Council had appointed him as Surveyor and one of the tasks that he addressed was to reduce the difficulties for horse drawn carts using the Belle Vue Terrace area with its dangerous and awkward turns and steep roads. These problems led to horses slipping while pulling carts carrying stone or coal or other heavy items. It was generally considered that the improvements he carried out could not have been bettered. Maybury left Malvern to become County Surveyor for Kent and then during the First World War he organised Army roads in France with the rank of Brigadier. On his return he was knighted and become Director of the Road Board, later the Ministry of Transport.[2] The Belle Vue Pump was likely a result of his efforts in Malvern.
It is believed that the same source of water also supplied the Crown Hotel and Stables in the 19th century. Downhill a short distance from the Crown Hotel and Pump there is what is purported to be a shallow well beneath Lyttleton House in Abbey Road. It has been identified as the former stable well of the Crown Hotel (now Lloyds Bank). The remains of the original stable buildings near to the Abbey Gateway are occupied by First Paige the printers and their 1833 deeds record their right to draw water from the well.
Tipping and Morris`s wine shop (now Aquarius) on Priory Steps reported a very damp cellar space below the shop with a large heavy flagstone which they managed to lift, revealing a well full of water. There is no sign of water in the well today. The Natural Health Centre in Lyttleton House confirmed the well below their internal paved courtyard, which was likely the original stable yard.[3] The name Healing Crown Well was chosen following a local competition in 2008. There is no evidence that the well water was ever used for healing and so we prefer the name Crown Stables Well. Healing is carried out in the locality with Lyttelton House now home to a variety of complementary therapies.
1831 Foley Estate Plan (see illustration in Celebrated Springs of the Malvern Hills) shows two houses marked A and B, and the stables, marked C. The x in the stables area marks the position of a well. It is covered by a heavy flagstone, is approximately 4 feet deep, and lined with Malvern stone. Such a well would have been contemporary with the Pump and Hotel
Illustrations:
1, Belle Vue Pump; The Crown Hotel (now Lloyds Bank) is on the left.
Tipping and Morris`s wine shop (now Aquarius) on Priory Steps reported a very damp cellar space below the shop with a large heavy flagstone which they managed to lift, revealing a well full of water. There is no sign of water in the well today. The Natural Health Centre in Lyttleton House confirmed the well below their internal paved courtyard, which was likely the original stable yard.[3] The name Healing Crown Well was chosen following a local competition in 2008. There is no evidence that the well water was ever used for healing and so we prefer the name Crown Stables Well. Healing is carried out in the locality with Lyttelton House now home to a variety of complementary therapies.
1831 Foley Estate Plan (see illustration in Celebrated Springs of the Malvern Hills) shows two houses marked A and B, and the stables, marked C. The x in the stables area marks the position of a well. It is covered by a heavy flagstone, is approximately 4 feet deep, and lined with Malvern stone. Such a well would have been contemporary with the Pump and Hotel
Illustrations:
1, Belle Vue Pump; The Crown Hotel (now Lloyds Bank) is on the left.
2. Tim Willcocks lifts the cover from the Crown Stables Well
Footnotes:
[1] Malvern Advertiser, 9 August 1884.
[2] Severn Burrow C F (1949 4th impression) A Little City Set on a Hill, Priory Press, Malvern, p.30.
[1] Malvern Advertiser, 9 August 1884.
[2] Severn Burrow C F (1949 4th impression) A Little City Set on a Hill, Priory Press, Malvern, p.30.
[3] MSA Newsletter 14, Autumn 2004. 
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).
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
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.
1) TOPOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:
Malvern Hills - arguably Britain's original National Park
2) LANDSCAPE:
Built Up Location3) INFORMATION CATEGORY:
A Spring, Spout, Fountain or Holy Well Site4) MALVERN SPRING OR WELL SITE DETAILS:
Site with Malvern Water3 SPLASHES - Of Moderate Interest
5) GENERAL VISITOR INFORMATION:
On Private PropertyFree Parking Nearby