Stone setts, balustraded piers and curved stairs adjoining the Hubert Fountain

Victoria Park, Jemmett Road, Ashford, TN23 4QD

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Setts, balustraded piers and curved steps constructed in 1912 when the c 1862 Hubert Fountain (listed Grade II*) was installed in Victoria Park. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1433682
Date first listed:: 17-May-2016
List Entry Name:: Stone setts, balustraded piers and curved stairs adjoining the Hubert Fountain
Statutory Address:: Victoria Park, Jemmett Road, Ashford, TN23 4QD

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1433682
Date first listed:: 17-May-2016
List Entry Name:: Stone setts, balustraded piers and curved stairs adjoining the Hubert Fountain
Statutory Address 1:: Victoria Park, Jemmett Road, Ashford, TN23 4QD

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: Victoria Park, Jemmett Road, Ashford, TN23 4QD

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Kent
District:: Ashford (District Authority)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TR0053442259

Summary

Setts, balustraded piers and curved steps constructed in 1912 when the c 1862 Hubert Fountain (listed Grade II*) was installed in Victoria Park.

Reasons for Designation

The 1912 stone setts, stone curved steps and concrete balustraded piers adjoining the Hubert Fountain, Victoria Park, Ashford, are listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Date: features of Victoria Park since 1912 and part of George Harper's bequest to Ashford, together with the Hubert Fountain; * Design quality: the curved stone steps provide an impressive approach to the Hubert Fountain. Both the setts and steps are of good quality materials and with the concrete balustraded piers provide the setting for the fountain; * Group value: they adjoin the Hubert Fountain (Grade II*), a rare monumental cast iron fountain cast in France, and were constructed specifically to enhance its setting; * Degree of survival: little altered.

History

The stone setts, balustrading with piers and curved steps were constructed in 1912 specifically to provide a grander setting for the Hubert Fountain in its new location in Victoria Park.

The monumental cast iron fountain was cast circa 1862 by the French foundry of M. Barbezat and Co. at the Val d'Osne, Foundry, Haut Marne. The fountain was first erected in the Royal Horticultural Society's gardens in London for the Second International Exhibition of 1862 as the Hubert Fountain.

After the 1862 Exhibition the Hubert Fountain was purchased and erected in the grounds of Olantigh Towers at Wye, about five miles from Ashford, but this mansion was destroyed by fire in 1903. During the rebuilding of that property in 1910 the fountain was purchased by Mr. George Harper, an antique shop owner and art collector who was also Chairman of the Ashford Urban District Council. He made an offer to present the fountain together with two huge cast iron stags to Ashford. The fountain was dismantled and brought to Ashford in sections by traction engine. The stone setts balustraded piers and curved steps were constructed, and on 24 July 1912 the fountain was formally presented to Ashford. Unfortunately three weeks later Harper was run over and killed by a train. The life-size cast iron stags which stood on the plinths at the bottom of the steps when the fountain was first re-erected were removed at a later date.

Details

Setts, balustraded piers and curved steps constructed in 1912 when the c 1862 Hubert Fountain was installed in Victoria Park.

MATERIALS: stone setts and steps but the balustrading and piers are concrete.

PLAN: the arrangement of stone setts is roughly circular in shape enclosing the basin of the fountain with spurs to the south-east and south-west. Beyond this the eastern quadrant has five curved steps which are bounded by balustrading and piers.

DESCRIPTION: stone setts surround the basin and on the eastern quadrant are five curved stone steps leading up to it. The steps are bounded on each side by sections of low concrete balustrades on plinths and each side has six panelled concrete piers.

Sources

None.

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.