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Jacobs Fountain Location: In the restaurant area in the Winter Gardens. Grid Reference: SO77724582 This fountain, a bronze sculpture of four water babies by Richard Goulden, was paid for by public donations in 1929 as a permanent memorial to Dr Henry Jacob, a much loved local G.P. It was originally supplied with pure spring water piped from the Rushey Valley on the hills above Great Malvern. As part of his "Brighter Malvern" regeneration scheme Dr Jacob campaigned tirelessly for the public ownership of what later became known as the Winter Gardens and Priory Park. Having become Chairman of the Urban District Council in 1920, he finally succeeded in achieving this wish when the Council bought the land and buildings for public use in 1927. Following two nervous breakdowns during this stressful process, Dr Jacob died in 1928 leaving the town without leadership. In 1930 his friends ensured that Dr Jacob's other wish, to have pure Malvern spring water piped directly into the Winter Gardens, also came true when this memorial drinking fountain was installed in the centre of the Pump Room on a white marble plinth, pedestal and basin. It remained here until 1997 when the Theatre building was redeveloped. Then it was discovered in pieces by Rose Garrard and Carly Tinkler, discarded on the grass of the building site and was rescued as a result of their efforts. The builders had destroyed the square marble plinth and pipe-work when removing it and reported they had already been offered £500 for the bronze sculpture! Brown stains from the grass can still be seen on the white marble pedestal. With considerable reluctance from the planners to have it back in the new building at all, it was eventually consigned to a corner inside the renamed 'New Space' or 'Forum'. It is now supplied with tap water but this is rarely turned on and there is a growing movement from the MSA and others to have the fountain properly reinstated. Rose Garrard 2006 |
