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STONE BOTTLE FOUNTAIN - PICTURE GALLERY

The Three Counties Showground
Site Number: C80.
By Bruce Osborne and Cora Weaver (C) 2012
Malvern, WR13 6NW
Area 0. Malvern Hills Outlanders
United Kingdom
Telephone: 01684 584900
Fax: 01684 584910


During October 2011, a local treasure, the Stone Bottle Fountain, returned to Malvern.

 

Schweppes began bottling Malvern spring water in 1850, and in 1892 built a water-bottling factory at Colwall. In 1987 the brand and the factory was taken over by Coca-Cola Enterprises. When the factory closed, in October 2010, many local people were concerned about the future of the factory site and its heritage artefacts.

Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells, with the support of Coca-Cola, ensured that most of the historic artefacts were deposited at Malvern Museum, and the archive deposited at the Country Record Office. The exceptional artefact was the Stone Bottle Fountain, which stood outside the factory's main entrance. It depicts a Malvern Water bottle, and was sculpted in York stone by local stonemason Darren Bennett.

When it was revealed that the Colwall site would be sold for possible development, Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells had the two and a half ton fountain removed to a safe location outside Malvern, while a suitable alternative site was found for it. In 2011, The Friends, working with Malvern's Three Counties Showground management and Alchemy Gardens, ensured a permanent site in a rustic garden designed by Paul Taylor of Alchemy Gardens. Paul's purpose made garden is just inside the main south gate at the showground.

 

On Thursday 10th May 2012, the bubbling, floodlit fountain was once again on display, in time for the Malvern Spring Gardening Show Gold Day. The fountain and its accompanying plaque were unveiled at 3pm. by the Bishop of Worcester. Thereafter the fountain is being seen by hundreds of thousands of visitors, and is a fitting tribute to 160 years of Schweppes Malvern Water.

  

 
 
 
A tribute to 160 years of Schweppes bottling Malvern Waters.
 
 
 
 
Nostalgic reminder of the bottling works, closed in 2010.
 
 
 
 
The Stone Bottle Fountain outside reception at Colwall.
 
 
 
Sanjay Guha, President, Coca-Cola Great Britain & Ireland visited the Malvern Hills and the bottling works at Colwall to receive a St Werstan Award in recognition of their stewardship of Malvern's most famous water, 2008. With Sanjay are Cora Weaver and Bruce Osborne.
 
 
 
 
 
Removing the fountain before the site was sold, one cold winter afternoon.
 
 
 
 
Two and a half tons of Yorkshire stone on the move.
 
 
  
 
 
Off to a secret location for safe storage.
 
 
 
 
In the safe custody of the stonemasons.
 
 
 
 
Preparing the new site at the Three Counties Showground.
 
 
  
 
The fountain arrives at the Three Counties Showground.
 
 
 
 
 The fountain is located in position.
 
 
 
 
Now to landscape the garden and secure the fountain.
 
 
 
Paul from Alchemy Gardens shows off the finished installation.
 
 
 
The finished fountain and garden.
 
 
 
 
Ready and floodlit for the Fireworks Celebrations, November 2011.
 
 
At the unveiling of the fountain and plaque 10 May 2012; L>R The Right Rev. Dr. John Inge, Bishop of Worcester and wife, Dr. Denise Inge; Rob Stilliard, former manager of the Schweppes Malvern Water factory at Colwall representing Coca-Cola; Paul Taylor, Alchemy Gardens; Cora Weaver, Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells; Michael Blandford, Chairman of the Three Counties Showground Council; Dr. Bruce Osborne, Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells; Darren Bennett, sculptor, DK Masonry of Worcester. 
 
 
 
The fountain awaits hundreds of thousands of visitors. 
 
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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.





1) TOPOGRAPHICAL LOCATION:
Malvern Hills - arguably Britain's original National Park
2) LANDSCAPE:
Park or Garden
3) INFORMATION CATEGORY:
A Spring, Spout, Fountain or Holy Well Site
History & Heritage
Gardens
4) MALVERN SPRING OR WELL SITE DETAILS:
Site with Malvern Water
St Werstan Award
5 SPLASHES - Prime 'Must See' Site
Water Bottling - Past or Present
5) GENERAL VISITOR INFORMATION:
Access By Road
Open Set Times Only








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