Victorian water fountain scoops restoration award
THE meticulous restoration of a famous Black Country fountain has won a conservation award.
The restoration of Dudley Fountain, in High Street, beat three other projects to scoop the Victorian Society’s 2016 Birmingham & West Midlands title.
The Grade II*-listed landmark was created in 1867 by sculptor James Forsyth and was used as a drinking fountain for horses and people.
But it fell into disrepair, with its original purpose as a grand water structure lost for over 30 years as the troughs were filled with soil and flowers.
Now, thanks to the Dudley Council project, its original purpose has been reimagined and water flows from the mouths of the ornate dolphins and lions once more.
Striking ornamental details have been reinstated and the area around the fountain has also been improved with paving and planting.
Stephen Hartland, chairman of the Victorian Society Birmingham and West Midlands group, said: “I’m delighted that Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council has been awarded the Birmingham & West Midlands Conservation Award for 2016, for the excellent restoration of the Grade II*-listed fountain, and improvement of its setting, in Dudley Market Place.
“For many years, since the 1960s, its sad decline and neglect was a cause for concern, but now James Forsyth’s delightful 1867 riot of Classical, Renaissance and Baroque ornament has been restored in time for its 150th anniversary in October this year.
“Our casework committee acted as judging panel for a number of nominations across the West Midlands, but were clear in judging the Dudley Fountain nomination to be the winner. I commend the council for having the foresight to undertake this restoration and for improving the urban landscape in Dudley for its citizens and for those visiting from further afield.”
He added: “As the Birmingham & West Midlands group celebrates its own semicentenary in 2017, I hope that others will take encouragement in Dudley’s example, and that of the Grand Hotel in Birmingham, who won our 2015 Conservation Award, that Victorian and Edwardian architecture is something to celebrate and protect, but most of all enjoy.”
The Regional Conservation Award was established in 2015 to reward the high quality conservation work done by architects and groups across Birmingham and the West Midlands. The 2016 Awards was sponsored by the 2015 winners, Hortons’ Estate, which is restoring Birmingham’s Grand Hotel, in Colmore Row.