Pulhamite Cascade, Stepping Stones and Bridge in Water Garden, Dunorlan Park

Reasons for Designation

The Pulhamite cascade, stepping stones and bridge in the water garden, Dunorlan Park, are designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* The cascade comprising Pulhamite rocks with steps is a large and little altered example of a Pulhamite ornamental feature, and the water garden also incorporates Pulhamite stepping stones and a pedestrian bridge. * These water garden features comprise one of a series of substantial garden structures by the Victorian firm of James Pulham within Dunorlan Park. * They are situated within a park which is Grade II on the Register of Parks and Gardens.

Details

872/1/10051 PEMBURY ROAD 05-MAR-09 Pulhamite cascade, stepping stones an d bridge in water garden, Dunorlan Park

GV II Pulhamite cascade, stepping stones and pedestrian bridge. Constructed circa 1854-1864 by the firm of James Pulham for Henry Reed at Dunorlan Park.

MATERIALS: Sandstone and Pulhamite artificial stone.

DESCRIPTION: At the eastern end of the lake the water is forced through a small circular aperture under a path to form a cascade. This flows against a naturalistic composition of sandstone and Pulhamite rocks about 30ft wide and 15ft high which incorporates planting compartments and 14 steps leading from the upper to the lower level. The cascade flows int a larger pool from which a meandering stream leads eastwards with a series of Pulhamite rocks forming stepping stones. At the eastern extremity of the stream is a moulded Pulhamite footbridge, abour 8ft long by 7ft wide with low arch and roll moulded parapet terminating in low moulded square piers at each end.

HISTORY: In 1823, John Ward, who was a partner of Decimus Burton in the development of the villas in Calverley Park bought Calverley Farm, which included the site of a chalybeate spring. He constructed a lake on the farm for recreational purposes. In 1854 the farm was sold to Henry Reed who had made his fortune in Tasmania. He demolished the farmhouse and built a new house, Dunorlan, in Italianate style. The grounds were laid out by the Scottish landscae gardener Robert Martock (1811-1890) and James Pulham was commissioned to provide Pulhamite rockwork, a Pulhamite cascade, a Pulhamite and terracotta fountain, a Grecian temple, and he probably extended and re-shaped the lake. The firm completed the scheme in 1864. Although the water garden features are not specifically marked on the 1867 Ordnance Survey map, as the lake at the eastern end is shown passing through a narrow aperture and at the eastern end of the water garden a path is shown rising above a stream, it is clear that the cascade, stepping stones and bridge were in place by that date.

Pulhamite rockwork was developed by James Pulham (c.1820-98), the son of one of the pioneers of Portland cement manufacture. In the 1840s be began to use this cement as an ingredient in the construction of ornamental artificial rockwork. Masses of clinker and scrap brickwork were assembled, cement was poured over them, and they were moulded into boulder-like formations. Various surface finishes produced highly convincing and varied artificial rock types. As well as naturalistic rockeries, ornaments such as classically styled fountain basins were also produced by the firm of Pulham in moulded terracotta. Pulham¿s creations became a major feature of many mid and late Victorian garden designs.

In 1874 Henry Reed sold Dunorlan to the Collins family, in whose ownership it remained until 1945 when Tunbridge Wells Borough Council purchased the site. The main house, Dunorlan, was badly damaged by a fire in 1946 and demolished in 1958. In 2003-4 a major restoration of Dunorlan Park took place following a Heritage Lottery Fund award of £2.1m.

SOURCES: "Durability Guaranteed Pulhamite rockwork - Its conservation and repair." English Heritage 2008. P24.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: * The cascade, comprising naturalistic Pulhamite rocks with steps, is a large and little altered example of a Pulhamite ornamental feature and the water garden also incorporates stepping stones and a pedestrian bridge constructed of the same material. * These water garden features comprise one of a series of substantial garden structures by the Victorian firm of James Pulham within Dunorlan Park. * They are situated within a park which is Grade II on the Register of Parks and Gardens.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

505772

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
English Heritage, , Durability Guaranteed Pulhamite rockwork - its conservation and repair, (2008), 24

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