This is one of the most unusual commissions we have ever undertaken. We were originally approached by Lord Neidpath in the early part of the year 2000. He had a vision to create the highest gravity fed fountain in the world on his estate at Stanway, and asked David Bracey to become involved as lead designer.
Stanway House is situated at the base of a significant escarpment, and benefits from a water source that springs from a considerable height within the valley. This offered the ideal circumstances to achieve Lord Neidpath’s vision.
The project was executed in two phases. Phase One was to take a supply from the existing Lidcombe Reservoir, situated some 90m [253 feet] above the existing canal near the house. We ran over a mile of 300mm [12”] bore polyethylene pipe, and constructed a series of valve stations to house specially constructed electrically actuated valves. These were interlinked by computer-controlled telemetry, all designed and built in-house, to control the huge pressures generated by such a head of water.
On 23rd June 2003 Phase One was formally opened, achieving a colossal jet of 165 feet [50m], and officially the highest gravity fed fountain currently operating in the world….and all with no pumps!
However when Paxton completed the Emperor Fountain at Chatsworth in 1858 it purportedly ran to a height of 296 feet, although the current jet can no longer achieve this height. Therefore there was a further goal in sight.
Phase Two of the work was to construct a new holding tank at the top of the escarpment, and to pump the water from the Lidcombe Reservoir up the hill to fill the tank over the course of two days. The charged tank could then be released allowing a gravity flow down to the jet.
On the 5th June 2004 the high fountain was formally revealed in all its glory, running at an awe-inspiring height of just over 300 feet [91.5m], and finally surpassing Paxton’s claimed figure. This also made the jet the highest garden fountain in the world surpassing the pumped 282-foot Great Fountain at Herrenhausen in Hanover.
Visitor numbers to the estate have dramatically increased during the course of this year, to witness the high jet in operation every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Stanway House is situated at the base of a significant escarpment, and benefits from a water source that springs from a considerable height within the valley. This offered the ideal circumstances to achieve Lord Neidpath’s vision.
The project was executed in two phases. Phase One was to take a supply from the existing Lidcombe Reservoir, situated some 90m [253 feet] above the existing canal near the house. We ran over a mile of 300mm [12”] bore polyethylene pipe, and constructed a series of valve stations to house specially constructed electrically actuated valves. These were interlinked by computer-controlled telemetry, all designed and built in-house, to control the huge pressures generated by such a head of water.
On 23rd June 2003 Phase One was formally opened, achieving a colossal jet of 165 feet [50m], and officially the highest gravity fed fountain currently operating in the world….and all with no pumps!
However when Paxton completed the Emperor Fountain at Chatsworth in 1858 it purportedly ran to a height of 296 feet, although the current jet can no longer achieve this height. Therefore there was a further goal in sight.
Phase Two of the work was to construct a new holding tank at the top of the escarpment, and to pump the water from the Lidcombe Reservoir up the hill to fill the tank over the course of two days. The charged tank could then be released allowing a gravity flow down to the jet.
On the 5th June 2004 the high fountain was formally revealed in all its glory, running at an awe-inspiring height of just over 300 feet [91.5m], and finally surpassing Paxton’s claimed figure. This also made the jet the highest garden fountain in the world surpassing the pumped 282-foot Great Fountain at Herrenhausen in Hanover.
Visitor numbers to the estate have dramatically increased during the course of this year, to witness the high jet in operation every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
