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Cleaning the Fountains in Athelhampton's Historic Gardens

As the drizzle settled over Athelhampton today, our gardening team decided that getting even wetter wouldn't hurt.


Two gardeners wearing black waders and green shirts stand in a small round pond, cleaning a carved stone fountain covered in moss at the centre. The fountain stands on square blocks, with a vase shaped bit on top decorated with satyrs bearded faces, complete with horns and pointed ears.

Across the eight ponds and fountains in Athelhampton's formal historic gardens, there is always work to be done. The water flowing through them is sourced from the River Piddle, a natural chalk stream, and after running through Athelhampton's system it returns to the river.


A close up of the cleaned fountain, with the satyr's carved face at a 3/4 angle. He has wild hair, pointed ears, and a pair of horns.

Keeping the water clean and alive means that all our ponds and fountains have to be cared for by hand. The moss growing on the stonework is carefully cleaned off without any chemicals or treatment, to protect the historic fountains installed in the 1890s by Alfred Carte de Lafontaine as well as the natural river water.


Two gardeners stand in a small round pond and clean the fountain in the centre of it. The fountain is a vase shape, stood on two square blocks of stone. One gardener cleans inside the vase, while the other is cleaning the exterior with a brush. The vase has satyrs faces decorating it. A large stepladder is also in the pond, which the gardener cleaning the inside of the vase is partially stood on.

Even in the rain, there is work to be done!


The cleaned fountain the the Corona garden at Athelhampton. The satyr's face decorating it looks straight at the viewer, with two carved stone foliage garlands curving round the vase on either side of the satyr.

Athelhampton is open every day, rain or shine, and there is always something different to see.

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