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Grindrod's Fountain



NGR 77754 45382
Site Number: C96
By Bruce Osborne and Cora Weaver (C) 2012
Area 1. Malvern Town Centre Springs and Wells
Malvern Hills, England


Location: In the garden of a modern development adjacent to Malvern College's music school
Description: a spout and ornamental basin set in the wall,

The music school building and the modern Malvern College development were formerly part of Townshend House, built in 1851 as Dr Ralph Barnes Grindrod's water cure establishment. His therapies included use of a compressed air chamber and he had a wide ranging interest in many aspects of science that he shared with his patients. Dr Grindrod, a champion of the temperance movement, was one of Malvern's leading water cure practitioners in the nineteenth century. The fountain was probably fed with water from Melton Lodge Estate on Wells Road. It was set into the western perimeter wall of his extensive gardens and would have provided a pure potion for perambulating patients. The gardens hosted the Temperance Society's annual fetes, the annual gatherings of the donkey boys, and children from the parochial schools, when upwards of 500 youngsters would play on the lawns. The Temperance Society also held its annual fetes in the grounds, retiring in the evening to within the walls of the house.[1] At such times the fountain would have been well used.

Although it is now dry this fountain is one of Malvern's spa heritage treasures. So it is alarming to see that it is no longer accessible to the public being now sited behind a garden fence. Following new building development in 2008/9 on the site, it was noted that the fountain was damaged, however it has subsequently been repaired. It can be seen by looking over the garden fence.

Illustrations:
1. The Fountain in the 1990s.
2. Anthony Clark, Headmaster of Malvern College displays the restored Grindrod Fountain at the unveiling of the Civic Society plaque in June 2012. 
 
Footnotes:
[1] Hood P 1857 The Metropolis of the Water Cure, p.151.
 
  
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.




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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 Location
3) INFORMATION CATEGORY:
A Spring, Spout, Fountain or Holy Well Site
4) MALVERN SPRING OR WELL SITE DETAILS:
3 SPLASHES - Of Moderate Interest
5) GENERAL VISITOR INFORMATION:
On Private Property
Not Open To Public








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