PUBLIC ART AND FOUNTAINS

A Personal View by Trevor Gilman

Now that refurbishment of the Pavilion Gardens is nearing completion, High Peak Borough Council is considering a number of finishing touches to the project. Some initial suggestions include an item of artwork on the base of the former bandstand and a fountain or similar water feature at the top of the rose spiral.

Following a conversation between Buxton Group Secretary Sheila Morten and Bob Hall, the council official responsible for the Pavilion Gardens, the Buxton Group offered to use members' resources to put together some ideas. It was realised that the same research could also apply to other parts of Buxton where water features or artwork had been suggested at some time, and even to some places where it had not. Added to the list of potential sites were a replacement for the fountain in The Crescent, and a water feature at the eastern end of Spring Gardens. Several roundabouts, particularly along Station Road have also been considered.

Some thought was given to the way in which the artwork is achieved. Public art might be defined as art commissioned by a public authority, or is in a public place, and could include traditional or modern sculpture. Community art is seen as art accomplished with public participation. A recent example of the latter is the screen at the rear of The Crescent.

No form of artwork in the widest sense should be excluded from consideration. Clock towers still form landmarks in many towns. In recent decades metalwork has formed an important expression of civic unity and pride. Arches across streets carrying signs announcing entry into a town or specific shopping area are common. Many such items have been designed and built in Buxton, and so could represent a form of tribute to local industry.

The importance of limestone to the area's economy was not fully recognised in the Spring Gardens pedestrianisation scheme. There may now be an opportunity to correct this with, possibly, a large stone monolith. The war memorial at Harpur Hill, recently listed as being of Grade II status, consists of a large block of limestone.

Festivals of music have become an important part of Buxton's calendar in recent years. Public art could reflect this.

WATER FEATURES

In view of the importance of water in the historical development and current economy of Buxton, it is important that water should feature as much as possible in any consideration of art works. Even in situations where it would be prohibitively expensive to take water to a feature, as with the former bandstand base, there is no reason that the feature itself could not represent some aspect of Buxton's water heritage. Continental spas such as Evian have numerous water displays. Buxton's twin town, Bad Nauheim, has a large fountain, the installation of which is celebrated each year in a festival.

Water features and fountains can be seen in many different forms, formal traditional and modern interpretations. The new fountain in the Pavilion Gardens is a simple traditional design. It is a much smaller version of Chatsworth's Emperor fountain. The fountain in front of The Crescent is an interpretation of an ornate Victorian fountain in more modern materials. Examples of original fountains still exist in parks and on promenades all over the country. They were generally chosen from the pattern books of manufacturers such as McFarlanes of Glasgow, whose output can be seen as far apart as Hartlepool and Torquay.

A stone fountain can be seen in Albert Square in Manchester, and a more recent reconstituted marble fountain by Andy Thornton Ltd of Halifax is in Vernon Park, Stockport.

In recent years fountains have evolved into 'water features' - no less valid as expressions of the importance of water. One reference book gives the 'dandelion' fountain as an example of a modern water feature. These can be found at Rheims in northern France, and at Nuneaton in the Midlands where an excellent example adorns a traffic roundabout.

Water jets activated by people - usually children trying to avoid getting too wet - introduce an unpredictable element and reduce the formality of water features. There are examples at Mancheter's Piccadily Gardens, and in Salzburg. One manufacturer places these in the childrens' play area section of its catalogue.

Manchester also has an example of water used in an abstract river in Exchange Square. This robust design has water flowing amongst stone blocks at pavement level.

of Hampshire, and have a number of patterns giving a choice of configurations.

The Buxton Group has obtained several catalogues showing other water features. Ustigate have installed dandelion fountains at Bournemouth and London, as well as a multi fountain complex at Hastings and the Horses of Helios at Piccadilly Circus in London. Ocmis have designed and installed what they describe as a choreographed display at Somerset House in London. Two other firms have offered a design service: Fountains Direct appears to be aimed more at owners of larger houses and Fountainhead seems to specialize in more modern features.

There are several sculptors specialising in public art. Anthony Gormley, responsible for the Angel of the North, is now probably prohibitively expensive. A foundry in Halifax, however, is selling Angels, about two meters high, on behalf of Gormley to the Japanese. Liverpool sculptor, Stephen Broadbent has carried out many commissions in the northwest. His themes are often religious in nature and frequently incorporate water. One significant example is the River of Life, commemorating Warrington's 1993 IRA bomb, A second example is the Water of Life statue in the Cloister of Chester Cathedral, depicting Jesus and the woman at the well.

THE SITES - A CONSIDERATION

Pavilion Gardens - bandstand base.

The first bandstand in the Pavilion Gardens was built in the 1880's, and forms an important part of the original axis including the concert hall and the Milner bridge. The octagonal bandstand base, some 5 meters across, was refurbished in 2002 and fitted with uplighters, which were subsequently disconnected. Several suggestions have been put forward for its use. These have included a statue, sales kiosk, shelter and a modern artwork. It is important that any addition to the base respects the original symmetry. A traditional sculpture might be more appropriate than a modern interpretation, although a modern sculpture could be suitably symmetrical. The original bandstand could be used to inspire a design for a Victorian gazebo or shelter. Consideration would have to be given to how people climb up to the level of the base.

This McFarlane's fountain, at Cowes I.O.W, could inspire a design for the bandstand base in the Pavilion Gardens.

Pavilion Gardens – rose spiral

The spiral is equipped with both water and power. Because of its prominent position, a copy of a Victorian cast iron fountain might be the most appropriate choice. It would blend with bronze urns on both nearby bridges as well as the cast bronze planter near the rail bridge.

A copy of this Victorian cast iron fountain in Hartlepool could provide a feature on top of the rose spiral in the Pavilion Gardens.

The Crescent

The fountain occupies an important focus in a semicircular space. Given the formal Georgian architecture of the backdrop, any replacement fountain needs to be equally formal to respect its location. A cast iron structure would not be appropriate as this is quintessentially a Victorian material. The Georgians would probably have used marble or dressed stone here. Reconstituted marble fountains are available at a realistic cost.

A marble fountain, similar to this one in a Stockport park, by Andy Thornton Ltd. might be suitable for The Crescent.

Spring Gardens

When the Taylor Well was taken from Sylvan Park, Buxton was promised a new water feature in its place. The site however is now so 'busy' that any additional feature would have to be large and spectacular to compete with trees, shrubs, road and pedestrian signs, flower displays and walls. A "dandelion" fountain such as at Nuneaton would be attractive. Other suggestions might include an arch that welcomes visitors to Buxton, a clock tower, or a simple limestone boulder. The last has the potential advantage of low cost through sponsorship by a local quarry.

This 'dandelion' water feature in Rheims could make an imposing entrance to the town at Sylvan Park.

Traffic roundabouts lend themselves to small features on the lines of the existing floral displays. A smaller work of art might be designed to complement the flowers.

THE WAY FORWARD

The Buxton Group would like to the views of members. What type of art or fountain would you like to see, and where?

All suggestions will be considered, and a rage of ideas put to the council. Other Buxton organizations will also be asked to contribute ideas. Contact any committee member with your views as soon as possible.

Trevor Gilman