a celebration of Buxton's Heritage

a Proposal by The Buxton Group

December 2005

The Rose Spiral

When the Heritage Lottery Funded refurbishment of the Pavilion Gardens came to an end a few years ago, it was recognised that several items of public art would be required to complete the project. For the past two years The Buxton Group has been working on a proposal to enhance the Rose Spiral, an artificial mound towards the eastern end of the Gardens, overlooked by the Promenade. It was recognised that High Peak Borough Council are both owners of the site and local planning authority. As their permission would be essential to the success of the project, council officers were consulted at intervals.

Towards a Selection

 A number of schemes were considered. Buxton Croup members looked at water features in other towns and cities in the UK and Europe. Two potential schemes emerged. The traditional Victorian cast iron fountain is at home in public parks.One suggestion presented at this stage was a copy, modified to suit the site, of a fountain recently installed in the Botanical Gardens in Sheffield. This design replicated an early Victorian feature. The second scheme involved a limestone monolith with water pouring down its surface. Budget costs were obtained for both schemes. They were then discussed informally with council officers who expressed a preference for the second scheme. It was felt that a large cast iron fountain would compete with the existing fountain in the nearby lake.

Limestone and Water

The preferred design consists of a single piece of limestone 2.5 metres high with water running over it from a central hole, 123mm diameter, drilled vertically through its centre. It thus embodies limestone and water, the two natural features without which Buxton would not exist in its present form. Limestone has been the cornerstone of the local economy. Its quality has been important to the Sheffield steel industry and many other manufacturing processes. Quality is a word also applied to the Buxton water. The Romans realised its properties and gave the town the prefix Aquae, along with Bath alone. Today, it is one of a few Natural Mineral Waters bottled in this country.

During the refurbishment of the Pavilion Gardens, a duct was taken to the Rose Spiral in anticipation of such a development. This can be used for the water and electricity supply. There is space in the existing fountain control cabinet for the necessary control gear. A receiving tank, pump and filters would be installed underground. Mechanical filters would remove debris and ultraviolet filters would reduce the build up of algae and bacteria.

Relative Heights

A maximum height of 2.5 metres is proposed for the water feature.

The existing fountain is designed to achieve a height of 6.0 metres, but is generally operated at a reduced height of around 4.0 metres.

Some of the shrubs and trees planted around the Rose Spiral at the conclusion of the refurbishment programme have now grown to a height of around 1.5 metres.

It is felt that a height of 2.5 metres would avoid overshadowing the existing fountain in the nearby lake and be a reasonable compromise for the proposed water feature.

The illustration shows the relative positions of the existing fountain and the proposed water feature.

The Plan

The sketch shows the limestone monolith in place at the top of the Rose Spiral. Also shown are the two access covers, one for the receiving tank, the other for the pumps and filters. The chamber to the left of the monolith roughly corresponds to the chamber at the end of the existing duct, which is available for water and electricity.

The circle around the monolith could represent a low plinth, or alternatively, a shallow bowl to collect the water flowing over the boulder.

However, modern practice is to dispense with these, with the water returning to the receiving tank through gaps between the paving stones. Examples can be seen at many locations, including Somerset House in London, Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester and Lakeland Limited at Windermere. If this approach is chosen, the circle would represent the limit of these paving stones.

Risk Assessment

It is anticipated that a risk assessment will be carried out as part of a method statement and health and safety plan to be prepared by suppliers and installers under CDM regulations. Consequently, this risk assessment is confined to the completed water feature.

The main risks are:-

1. Contaminated water.

2. Trip hazard with a plinth or bowl.

3. Temptation to climb, with subsequent fall.

1. Water quality is maintained with the filtration systems. A regular maintenance regime will he necessary to ensure that the filters continue to function properly.

2 As discussed earlier, water can be taken to the receiving tank through gaps in paving. The hazard therefore is reduced to that involved with stepping between different surfaces. As long as these surfaces arc level and continuous, there will be no discernible hazard.

3 The surrounding area has many temptations - the Milner Bridge, a rocky river bank, a waterfall, a river tunnel, trees, railings and gates. The suggested monolith offers no more temptations than others in the area. The risk will be reduced by the careful selection of the stone, with, if necessary, some dressing. ]

Dorothea Restorations Ltd (cast iron fountain)

Invent Water Treatment (filtration, pumping)

The Fountain Company (filtration, pumping)

Trevor Gilman Designs Ltd (design, costing)

RMC and BLI (limestone monolith)

J W Grindey (ground work)

The approximate costs for the project have been assessed as follows:-

Ground work and reinstatement - £14,000

Pumps, filters, pipe work, controls - £22,000

Limestone monolith - seek donated stone

Transport, crane, installation - £2,000

Structural engineer, planning application fees etc.- £1,000

Contingency - £4,000

Total - £45,000

Sources of funding

Funding is available as a result of initiatives such as the Landfill Tax and the liabilities placed on developers to fund community projects. These are administered by Derbyshire County Council, the Development Agencies and similar bodies. The HLF might be persuaded to add to their already generous funding of the Pavilion Gardens.

Funding sources generally specify a financial input from the local community as proof of the local community acceptance of the project. It can be argued that this 'gearing' is represented by the work already carried out by the Buxton Group together with, hopefully, the donation of a suitable piece of limestone.

Trevor Gilman