Fountains.

[Phil]

I had a bit of a debate with myself where to place this post, it was down to a choice between Statues & Monuments and here. In the end I decided that it would be best suited here but if administration decide it would be better suited elsewhere then please move it, I won't be offended in the least.

Birmingham fountains, what is it with fountains that Birmingham just can’t seem to get right? The River fountain in Victoria Square (TheFloozie in the Jacuzzi) has cost a staggering £3.9 million and still remains inoperative. Looking back just how many fountains have disappeared from Birmingham over the years and how many do we have now that are fated for the same ends.

Here we have the fountain that stood on Hagley Rd by SandonRd. The original fountain that stood in the Peace Gardens (Centenary Square) on Broad St, the later one the Spirit of Enterprise, the water feature that stood at the rear of Manzoni Gardens, and the fountain that stood in the Market Hall and that was later moved to Highgate Park.

None of these fountains seem to have lasted.

 

[Phil]

Here is one of the only fountains in Birmingham that seems to have stood the test of time. The Chamberlain Memorial in Chamberlain Square erected in 1880. Even with this fountain it was decided to remove the pools in the late 60's, but there was a change of heart in 1978 and it was decided to reinstall them. Though they are a poor reflection of their former self at about half the size.

 

[Richie]

Featured recently on RIBA are two captures of the fountain,the first accompanied by its old friend the former Library, doomed to disappear only a few years later; and secondly the fountain huddled for protection by the Town Hall and under threat it seems from the Paradise Street expressway

 

[Phil]

This is a strange one, it's a photograph that is tagged "Fountain in Highgate Street Birmingham" I have taken this to be Highgate Park because it's obviously Highgate Park and old maps show a fountain. The problem I have is this the information I have about the fountain from the Market Hall that was supposed to have been moved to Highgate Park.

In 1851 the addition of a fountain was made to the Market Hall at a cost of £900, this being in the form of a Greek Tazza , By 1880 this fountain was removed supposedly to be re-erected at Highgate Park but it never was and in 1923 it was scrapped.

Can anybody enlighten me further as it certainly looks like the fountain from the Market Hall to me?

 

[rosie]

I'm not sure if my memory is correct but was there an indoor fountain a the top of the ramp in Stephenson St.?
The Broad Street one was my favourite as it changed colours at night.

 

[Phil]

Hi Rosie

I can't say that I remember a fountain in the Pallasades Shopping Centre and it was my company that removed all the large marble clad flower pots in the 70's except for a couple that were left to be converted into retail booths.

 

[Phil]

Rosie

I have to add that what I said in my previous post was what I remember personally and may not be what actually was true.

 

[horsencart]

There did used to be a fountain on the Palisades,

I'm not sure if my memory is correct but was there an indoor fountain a the top of the ramp in Stephenson St.?
The Broad Street one was my favourite as it changed colours at night.

 

[rosie]

Thanks both! I wasn't sure whether I was confusing it with the one by the indoor West Bromwich market square many years ago.
rosie.

 

[Phil]

I really should have remembered better seeing as how I have these two photos in my collection. That Preedy cigarette kiosk looks suspiciously like one of the planters we had to leave after emptying it and removing the liner.

 

[rosie]

Thanks again Phil!! Now I remember! What a pity it went, It's all changed again now though.
rosie,

 

[horsencart]

There is/was another fountain? that has escaped the attention it was the one that is under the former Central Library (now closed) the fountain? will not be there for much longer as the area of the former Central Library with the library will be demolished starting from January 2015, so that another one will go, I have taken shots of the area before it goes under the demolition mans heavy foot, and will in due course put them on to Flickr,

The reason for the question mark after the word Fountain is because I am not certain if it was a fountain or was a pool of water for fish and the like, I am not certain if it every held water or not.

 

[anvil man]

Not such a grand fountain as those above but nevertheless a public one. This ,as many others, does not now exist. It was situated in the central reservation of Weoley Hill north of the intersection with Witherford Way. I can just about recall this during and a little after WW2. The water depth was very low for obvious reasons and the spout from the central projection was minimal.

 

[Astonian]

Hi Phil,
Hope you had a nice christmas may I add a little bit of info on your thread regarding the fountain Chamberlain
Chamberlain place I congreave street (1905 )
The fountain and Square were openend. In 1880 as you said it was open end as tribute to Joe chamberlain,s work when Mayor
The Josiah mason science college, at the rear was built in the late 1870.s
And became the mason univerary college in 1897. Chamberlain had considered developing it into an
Indepentant university,but decided to build a new one on bristolrd open end in 1909
Which later became the very old central library as I recall
Congreive street was where the original births and deaths and marriage office before moving to broad street I can recall them opening the broad street office all those Yeats back best wishes for the 2015 Alan, Astonian,,,

 

[Phil]

There is/was another fountain? that has escaped the attention it was the one that is under the former Central Library (now closed) the fountain? will not be there for much longer as the area of the former Central Library with the library will be demolished starting from January 2015, so that another one will go, I have taken shots of the area before it goes under the demolition mans heavy foot, and will in due course put them on to Flickr,

The reason for the question mark after the word Fountain is because I am not certain if it was a fountain or was a pool of water for fish and the like, I am not certain if it every held water or not.

Are we talking about Paradise Place? with it's series of Water Gardens that they only ever got around to building one of. I'm not sure if that one was ever completed. It was certainly allowed to go to ruin, as I've said Birmingham seems to have a thing about water features and fountains.

 

[ellbrown]

There is this fountain outside the Cadbury Factory in Bournville that looks old!







The Floozie in the Jacuzzi in one of the rare periods when it was fixed (Nov 2010)

 

[ellbrown]

There is this popular fountain / water jets feature in Central Square - Brindleyplace






There is this one at the Custard Factory

 

[ellbrown]

The Three Cubs Fountain was at the Bullring from 2003 to when the Spiceal Street development was built around 2011






It got replaced by this!

 

[ellbrown]

New fountains at Eastside City Park - effected by rust!

As new in April 2013



Rusty walls June 2014



December 2014

 

[Phil]

Another couple of fountains, these two are on Aston University Campus. Whilst we are on the campus can anybody tell me if the drinking fountain that stood outside Gosta Green Library and was moved to the campus when the library was demolished is still there or has it surreptitiously been removed? (see first photo).

 

[Vivienne14]

A personal favourite Phil. I think you posted this originally on another thread. Worked at Fountain Court in Steelhouse Lane in the 1970's. My office was to the left of the fountain. Very few people walked around that courtyard and the fountain. A pity, it was very overlooked. Viv.

 

[mhemery]

Another couple of fountains, these two are on Aston University Campus. Whilst we are on the campus can anybody tell me if the drinking fountain that stood outside Gosta Green Library and was moved to the campus when the library was demolished is still there or has it surreptitiously been removed? (see first photo).

Think its still there standing about where the gen. wolf was just down from the sack. this is G.Earth view from holt st

 

[Phil]

Think its still there standing about where the gen. wolf was just down from the sack. this is G.Earth view from holt stView attachment 95563

Well spotted, I had looked myself but failed to find it.

 

[Phil]

The nude figure of Hebe used to rest at Holloway Circus on awall above the shallow bowl of the fountain. She leans on her left elbow, and reaches with her right hand to the plume of water that sprays up from the bowl (when it was working).

This statue of the goddess Hebe was erected by the PublicWorks Committee to commemorate the start of the inner ring road scheme around Birmingham, which began in 1957. The fountain was designed by L.A. Howles ofthe City Architect's Department and the figure was designed and made by the sculptor Robert Thomas. The total cost was £9,000.

It was removed for repairs to damage caused by vandalism in September 1981, and reset on a modified base on 20th May 1983. The statue was stolen in July 2000, and was recovered in late September 2001 following a police drugs raid on a house in Selly Oak. She was moved to the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery for safekeeping until a more secure location could be found for her.

She now rests on a pedestrian walkway at the bottom of Corporation Street adjacent to Lancaster Circus.

The two outer photos show her at Holloway Circus, the middle one at Lancaster Circus.

 

[ellbrown]

It's more behind James Watt Queensway with Corporation Street. View of Aston University!

Hebe in 2010 with the now demolished Stafford Tower!



Without snow in 2009 (summer)

 

[Radiorails]

It would be good if you could delete your own posts

You can.
Click on the word 'edit' at the bottom of your post. Another small window will appear. Backspace to remove post or 'select' your type and press delete.
You now need to type the words 'post deleted'. You can give a reason if you want to but it is not necessary.

 

[ij21]

View attachment 95533 Not such a grand fountain as those above but nevertheless a public one. This ,as many others, does not now exist. It was situated in the central reservation of Weoley Hill north of the intersection with Witherford Way. I can just about recall this during and a little after WW2. The water depth was very low for obvious reasons and the spout from the central projection was minimal.

My Dad visited this in 1938 at the age of 10

 

[Vivienne14]

The Hebe fountain is a lovely fountain but it is LOST in the context of the Lancaster Circus site. I think it should be in a more peaceful and graceful setting and somewhere where more people can appreciate its beauty. In fact it's original site on Holloway Circus wasn't (in my opinion) ideal either. Viv.

 

[ellbrown]

It's not at Lancaster Circus Viv, but at James Watt Queensway / Corporation Street opposite Aston University. It now gets litter and cigarette butts in it (I think).

 

[carolina]

Handsworth Park - a bit smaller as its a drinking one