The engineering works connected with the new Ilkley Fountain are near to completion and Improving Ilkley have given an update on how the project is progressing.
"As has been shared previously, we were unable to find any detailed information about how the gravity water feed to the original fountain had been designed. However, we did manage to find sections of the badly damaged and corroded cast iron pipe, which had clearly been the original supply pipe within the bed of the Ghyll. A search of old maps, showed what looked like a weir structure to the south of what is now Queens Road, and we did wonder if this was the original intake for the water feed.
"We then did our own assessment and developed a scheme for the gravity feed from first principles and specified modern materials and equipment. We also designed an outlet for the new fountain, comprising a central 150mm drain to return water from the fountain overflow back into the culverted Ghyll below.
"Now that we have had a contractor working on the project for a number of weeks, a few interesting features have come to light. We have found the original water intake, literally within a few metres of where we have built the new intake, to the north side of Queens Road. The original intake was quite simple and comprised of a cast iron box with a simple grid, to prevent any large objects getting into the feed pipe. We obviously chose to leave this old piece of Victorian archaeology in place.
"Having started clearing out the old masonry bowl to the fountain, we were surprised to discover an old clayware pipe leading down to the culvert below. This pipe was in good condition and of the right size, and in the right position, to allow us to re-use it as part of our new scheme.
"We also found the final section of feed pipe for the original fountain. Like our current scheme, the original pipe reduced in size as it entered the masonry bowl to ensure that there was adequate pressure to power the fountain.
"It is interesting that the original designers, some 150 years ago, clearly went through the same thought processes and arrived at essentially the same engineering solutions as did the Trust’s technical team during the last year."
As the time of publishing, Improving Ilkley had 25 permanent naming spots available, which are expected to be gone within a couple of weeks. For further information about having your name or business name permanently on the site at the top of Brook Street in Ilkley to please email louisehepworthwood@yahoo.co.uk
For anyone wishing to donate to the project or would like further details, please visit: www.justgiving.com/campaign/improvingilkleyfountain
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