Old Magnesia Well Pump Room Information Centre and Gardens
The concept is to adapt this Grade II listed structure to house a small permanent exhibition about the mineral springs and the development of Valley Gardens. The building has to be repaired and an electrical service substation had to be relocated. The area around the Old Magnesia Well Pump Room is overgrown and the refurbishment includes appropriate landscaping to create the Old Magnesia Well Gardens. Jane Blayney is the FOVG Lead for this project.
The Magnesia Well Pump Room in Bogs Field circa. 1860
To learn more about this project please see the original Project Briefing here.
Additional volunteers are always welcome to help with this effort. If you are interested, please contact Jane Blayney.
Current Status:
Work started on Monday, 17th Sep 2012 following the endorsement by the Secretary of State of the recommendation for the refurbishment to take place. The project is now complete and will be formally opened to the public at a ceremony on 6 October.
Phase 1, which included the barge boards, stonework and paving has been completed.
Contractors and Harrogate Borough
Council gardeners celebrate completion
of Phase 1 of the Old Magnesia Well Pump
Room Refurbishment Plan.
The Pump Room in August 2013 with a new roof, barge boards and paving.
The lower part of building is to be dark green.
Phase 2 is a separate project to restore the Peat Garden. Work on this phase has been completed and included extensive clean up of surrounding vegetation, excavation of the reservoir, and the installation of the required drainage.
Reservoir before excavation
Reservoir after excavation
Drainage installation complete
April 2014. Jim Clarke by newly planted Rock Garden.
Northern Aspect of Rock Garden
April 2014. Newly Constructed Rock Garden. Sensory garden in foreground.
May 2014 Newly planted Sensory Garden
Phase 3, which finished painting the outside of the building, restored the windows, and added security lights, has also been completed. Protective shields have been fitted over the windows.
Protective shield over window
prior to removal.
Phase 4 which restored/refurbished the internal works, including re-instating the pine flooring has also been completed.
The way it was!
Photos of the Old Magnesia Well Pump Room Refurbishment: Photos of the progress being made can be viewed here. Photos of the Pump Room prior to the start of refurbishment can be viewed here.
Phase 2: Restoration of the Peat Garden: The original landscaping plan for the restoration of the Peat Garden, Phase 2 of the project, can be viewed by clicking the thumbnail below.
