What was the Frogmoor fountain really like? (From Bucks Free Press)

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What was the Frogmoor fountain really like?

6:53pm Saturday 17th December 2011

By ivor »

There are very few people alive today who saw, in reality, the magnificent fountain that used to grace the once lovely part of town known as Frogmoor.

As the generations have sadly passed on the memories have gone with them and all we are left with are grainy black and white photographs of the fountain that are over a hundred years old.

So what would our very own fountain look like if we could see it today?

Well rumour has it that a similar fountain was erected in Torquay, indeed some have even said that the Wycombe fountain was moved to Torquay however our fountain is lost forever as it was probably melted down for the war effort.

One day, many years ago, I was talking to a friend who was brought up in Wycombe as a youngster.

At the time he was a hotelier in Torquay and in the course of conversation he mentioned the similarity between the Frogmoor fountain and one in the Pavilion Gardens by Torquay Harbour.

Now take a look at this link ( http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/224429 ) to see the fountain my friend was referring to.

I have attached a link a the end of this blog to the wonderful Sharing Wycombe's Old Photographs (SWOP) site showing the old Frogmoor fountain.

When you compare the Torquay fountain to our very own fountain on Frogmoor you can see there are many similarities.

The ornamentation on the very top is slightly different and there are minor differences with the animals adorning the bottom of the plinth. Also taking into account that our fountain was actually grey in colour generally the two fountains are the same.

It turns out a similarly styled fountain is situated outside the Raffles Hotel in Singapore, see this link ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/eustaquio/3517946082/in/photostream/ ) for a picture.

In terms of colour the Raffles Hotel fountain is more akin to our own than the Torquay one.

Just look at the colour pictures of the two magnificent fountains and think how lovely the Frogmoor of yesteryear must have been.

Can you imagine relaxing on a bench in Frogmoor surrounded by lovely flower gardens whle hearing the steady stream of water trickling down from top of the fountain?

If only we had such a spectacle gracing our town centre today we would be the envy of every town in Buckinghamshire.

Instead the powers that be in Wycombe want to put up a large television screen so hoards of yobbos can stand shouting and screaming while watching footballers score goals on the screen.

It's about time the powers that be listened to the people of Wycombe and restored Frogmoor Gardens back to how they were intended to be with an exact copy of our old fountain at the very centre.

At least there will be no problem re-casting the Frogmoor fountain as the Torquay fountain would be an excellent model to work from.

To save time maybe we could even make the people of Torquay an offer for their fountain?

What do you think?

SWOP : The Frogmoor Fountain early 1900's: http://apps.buckscc.gov.uk/projects/swop/swop.asp?page=singleRecordFromSimpleSearch&mwsquery=({phrases}=~{frogmoor}) AND ({phrases}=~{fountain})&swopItemStart=8&id=4813

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Comments(63)

stirrer says...
5:24am Sun 18 Dec 11

Can you imagine relaxing on a bench in Frogmoor surrounded by lovely flower gardens whle hearing the steady stream of water trickling down from top of the fountain?
Hope the loos are still there?

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brachyura says...
6:32am Sun 18 Dec 11

Hello Ivor,

Not sure the SWOp photo shows the fountain very clearly. Try this link (click on the photo to make them full screen).

http://postcardsthen
andnow.blogspot.com/
2011/04/high-wycombe
-buckinghamshire-fro
gmore.html

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brachyura says...
6:32am Sun 18 Dec 11

Hello Ivor,

Not sure the SWOp photo shows the fountain very clearly. Try this link (click on the photo to make them full screen).

http://postcardsthen
andnow.blogspot.com/
2011/04/high-wycombe
-buckinghamshire-fro
gmore.html

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Jacqui-blue says...
1:01pm Sun 18 Dec 11

Have perused the torquay fountain many times but you will notice that it is much smaller than the one that adorned frogmoor and the decoration around the main body are totaly different,ours had herons not fish and cherubs,hey! that would make a great menu,small fish and cherubs please!"ha! you want fries with that?"ahem!no no no,ours was reputed to have been spotted in a scrap yard many moons ago after the the war sitting very forlorn and all alone awaiting rescue that never came,my mother remembers the fountain and so does my father,and they say that ours was much bigger and had a base of around25-30 feet diameter,if you look closely at the photo's with people around it you get some kind of scale in your mind,as for the toilets,mmm,yes i can remember those myself,was always what you might call an interesting odour drifting up from the catacombes of the underworld,can remember everyone pouring out the palace cinema and making a mad dash in their direction as though they were giving out free beer,more like letting it out i think,but anyway,please do not compare our glorious fountain for that poor excuse in torquay which represents more like a garden ornament,,(sorry torquay i am sure you love your fountain very much,no offence intended!) whether we have seen i our past one in action or not that is irrelevant,the fact is that nearly everyone would like to see past promises fulfilled of replacing a full replica in the exact spot,not a poor laymans font or bidet like the present failiure!,this argument will continue untill action is taken,and i for one will not let it rest,i love this town and it deserves better,the whole place at the moment is one huge mess,and i am sure if you close your eyes you will see the old river flowing down oxford road(not!) another broken promise,it is all under marks and sparks and the octagon,another disaster! i watched them fill the river in way back when i was but a small whipper snapper it runs under boots and littlewoods,by the way i laid three bricks in the octagon back then when i used to go and watch the builders,could that be the cause of the curse of Wycombe?I wonder! more ramblings and hair curlers from jacqui-blue.

Have perused the torquay fountain many times but you will notice that it is much smaller than the one that adorned frogmoor and the decoration around the main body are totaly different,ours had herons not fish and cherubs,hey! that would make a great menu,small fish and cherubs please!"ha! you want fries with that?"ahem!no no no,ours was reputed to have been spotted in a scrap yard many moons ago after the the war sitting very forlorn and all alone awaiting rescue that never came,my mother remembers the fountain and so does my father,and they say that ours was much bigger and had a base of around25-30 feet diameter,if you look closely at the photo's with people around it you get some kind of scale in your mind,as for the toilets,mmm,yes i can remember those myself,was always what you might call an interesting odour drifting up from the catacombes of the underworld,can remember everyone pouring out the palace cinema and making a mad dash in their direction as though they were giving out free beer,more like letting it out i think,but anyway,please do not compare our glorious fountain for that poor excuse in torquay which represents more like a garden ornament,,(sorry torquay i am sure you love your fountain very much,no offence intended!) whether we have seen i our past one in action or not that is irrelevant,the fact is that nearly everyone would like to see past promises fulfilled of replacing a full replica in the exact spot,not a poor laymans font or bidet like the present failiure!,this argument will continue untill action is taken,and i for one will not let it rest,i love this town and it deserves better,the whole place at the moment is one huge mess,and i am sure if you close your eyes you will see the old river flowing down oxford road(not!) another broken promise,it is all under marks and sparks and the octagon,another disaster! i watched them fill the river in way back when i was but a small whipper snapper it runs under boots and littlewoods,by the way i laid three bricks in the octagon back then when i used to go and watch the builders,could that be the cause of the curse of Wycombe?I wonder! more ramblings and hair curlers from jacqui-blue. Jacqui-blue

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Jacqui-blue says...
1:01pm Sun 18 Dec 11

Have perused the torquay fountain many times but you will notice that it is much smaller than the one that adorned frogmoor and the decoration around the main body are totaly different,ours had herons not fish and cherubs,hey! that would make a great menu,small fish and cherubs please!"ha! you want fries with that?"ahem!no no no,ours was reputed to have been spotted in a scrap yard many moons ago after the the war sitting very forlorn and all alone awaiting rescue that never came,my mother remembers the fountain and so does my father,and they say that ours was much bigger and had a base of around25-30 feet diameter,if you look closely at the photo's with people around it you get some kind of scale in your mind,as for the toilets,mmm,yes i can remember those myself,was always what you might call an interesting odour drifting up from the catacombes of the underworld,can remember everyone pouring out the palace cinema and making a mad dash in their direction as though they were giving out free beer,more like letting it out i think,but anyway,please do not compare our glorious fountain for that poor excuse in torquay which represents more like a garden ornament,,(sorry torquay i am sure you love your fountain very much,no offence intended!) whether we have seen i our past one in action or not that is irrelevant,the fact is that nearly everyone would like to see past promises fulfilled of replacing a full replica in the exact spot,not a poor laymans font or bidet like the present failiure!,this argument will continue untill action is taken,and i for one will not let it rest,i love this town and it deserves better,the whole place at the moment is one huge mess,and i am sure if you close your eyes you will see the old river flowing down oxford road(not!) another broken promise,it is all under marks and sparks and the octagon,another disaster! i watched them fill the river in way back when i was but a small whipper snapper it runs under boots and littlewoods,by the way i laid three bricks in the octagon back then when i used to go and watch the builders,could that be the cause of the curse of Wycombe?I wonder! more ramblings and hair curlers from jacqui-blue.

Have perused the torquay fountain many times but you will notice that it is much smaller than the one that adorned frogmoor and the decoration around the main body are totaly different,ours had herons not fish and cherubs,hey! that would make a great menu,small fish and cherubs please!"ha! you want fries with that?"ahem!no no no,ours was reputed to have been spotted in a scrap yard many moons ago after the the war sitting very forlorn and all alone awaiting rescue that never came,my mother remembers the fountain and so does my father,and they say that ours was much bigger and had a base of around25-30 feet diameter,if you look closely at the photo's with people around it you get some kind of scale in your mind,as for the toilets,mmm,yes i can remember those myself,was always what you might call an interesting odour drifting up from the catacombes of the underworld,can remember everyone pouring out the palace cinema and making a mad dash in their direction as though they were giving out free beer,more like letting it out i think,but anyway,please do not compare our glorious fountain for that poor excuse in torquay which represents more like a garden ornament,,(sorry torquay i am sure you love your fountain very much,no offence intended!) whether we have seen i our past one in action or not that is irrelevant,the fact is that nearly everyone would like to see past promises fulfilled of replacing a full replica in the exact spot,not a poor laymans font or bidet like the present failiure!,this argument will continue untill action is taken,and i for one will not let it rest,i love this town and it deserves better,the whole place at the moment is one huge mess,and i am sure if you close your eyes you will see the old river flowing down oxford road(not!) another broken promise,it is all under marks and sparks and the octagon,another disaster! i watched them fill the river in way back when i was but a small whipper snapper it runs under boots and littlewoods,by the way i laid three bricks in the octagon back then when i used to go and watch the builders,could that be the cause of the curse of Wycombe?I wonder! more ramblings and hair curlers from jacqui-blue. Jacqui-blue

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Jacqui-blue says...
1:01pm Sun 18 Dec 11

Have perused the torquay fountain many times but you will notice that it is much smaller than the one that adorned frogmoor and the decoration around the main body are totaly different,ours had herons not fish and cherubs,hey! that would make a great menu,small fish and cherubs please!"ha! you want fries with that?"ahem!no no no,ours was reputed to have been spotted in a scrap yard many moons ago after the the war sitting very forlorn and all alone awaiting rescue that never came,my mother remembers the fountain and so does my father,and they say that ours was much bigger and had a base of around25-30 feet diameter,if you look closely at the photo's with people around it you get some kind of scale in your mind,as for the toilets,mmm,yes i can remember those myself,was always what you might call an interesting odour drifting up from the catacombes of the underworld,can remember everyone pouring out the palace cinema and making a mad dash in their direction as though they were giving out free beer,more like letting it out i think,but anyway,please do not compare our glorious fountain for that poor excuse in torquay which represents more like a garden ornament,,(sorry torquay i am sure you love your fountain very much,no offence intended!) whether we have seen i our past one in action or not that is irrelevant,the fact is that nearly everyone would like to see past promises fulfilled of replacing a full replica in the exact spot,not a poor laymans font or bidet like the present failiure!,this argument will continue untill action is taken,and i for one will not let it rest,i love this town and it deserves better,the whole place at the moment is one huge mess,and i am sure if you close your eyes you will see the old river flowing down oxford road(not!) another broken promise,it is all under marks and sparks and the octagon,another disaster! i watched them fill the river in way back when i was but a small whipper snapper it runs under boots and littlewoods,by the way i laid three bricks in the octagon back then when i used to go and watch the builders,could that be the cause of the curse of Wycombe?I wonder! more ramblings and hair curlers from jacqui-blue.

Have perused the torquay fountain many times but you will notice that it is much smaller than the one that adorned frogmoor and the decoration around the main body are totaly different,ours had herons not fish and cherubs,hey! that would make a great menu,small fish and cherubs please!"ha! you want fries with that?"ahem!no no no,ours was reputed to have been spotted in a scrap yard many moons ago after the the war sitting very forlorn and all alone awaiting rescue that never came,my mother remembers the fountain and so does my father,and they say that ours was much bigger and had a base of around25-30 feet diameter,if you look closely at the photo's with people around it you get some kind of scale in your mind,as for the toilets,mmm,yes i can remember those myself,was always what you might call an interesting odour drifting up from the catacombes of the underworld,can remember everyone pouring out the palace cinema and making a mad dash in their direction as though they were giving out free beer,more like letting it out i think,but anyway,please do not compare our glorious fountain for that poor excuse in torquay which represents more like a garden ornament,,(sorry torquay i am sure you love your fountain very much,no offence intended!) whether we have seen i our past one in action or not that is irrelevant,the fact is that nearly everyone would like to see past promises fulfilled of replacing a full replica in the exact spot,not a poor laymans font or bidet like the present failiure!,this argument will continue untill action is taken,and i for one will not let it rest,i love this town and it deserves better,the whole place at the moment is one huge mess,and i am sure if you close your eyes you will see the old river flowing down oxford road(not!) another broken promise,it is all under marks and sparks and the octagon,another disaster! i watched them fill the river in way back when i was but a small whipper snapper it runs under boots and littlewoods,by the way i laid three bricks in the octagon back then when i used to go and watch the builders,could that be the cause of the curse of Wycombe?I wonder! more ramblings and hair curlers from jacqui-blue. Jacqui-blue

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Lawrence Linehan says...
5:09pm Sun 18 Dec 11

Igor may have accidentally deviated into something interesting here.

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Edna_Welthorpe_ says...
6:44pm Sun 18 Dec 11

Lawrence Linehan wrote:
Igor may have accidentally deviated into something interesting here.

The Glory of Ivor.

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ivor says...
8:03pm Sun 18 Dec 11

Re the comments of stirrer at 5:24am
~
Well, of course they public toilets would be rebuilt after all the town is desperately short of public conveniences.

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ivor says...
8:04pm Sun 18 Dec 11

Re the comments of brachyura at 6:32am
~
Hello brachyura, its been a long while since we heard from you on my blog. Welcome back.
~
Thank you for that link, the old fountain was a real spectacle. Just think how nice Frogmoor would be if it was re-instated.

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ivor says...
8:04pm Sun 18 Dec 11

Re the comments of Jacqui-blue at 1:01pm
~
Having never seen the Torquay fountain in reality I did not know that it was much smaller than our own one.
~
That's such a shame if out marvellous fountain was last seen in a scrap yard. Does anyone know why it was removed and disposed of? Maybe it was salvaged and is operating somewhere even as we speak?
~
We really need a new fountain just like the old one and to the same size and proportions. They restore historic buildings so why not restore the Frogmoor gardens? I can;t see why an application can't be put in for funding from the lottery and perhaps get a TV company involved to turn the restoration in to a programme that everyone in the country can watch.
~
I can remember the toilets however I never visited them and from what you have to say that was probably a good idea!
~
As you rightly say the fountain debate will continue until an exact replica is installed where the old one was. I shall certainly keep the pot boiling through my blogs and column in the printed version of the Bucks Free Press.
~
It would indeed be nice to get the Wye flowing again however that would require the demolition of part of the Octagon but the fountain is an achievable goal that could easily be implemented by the powers that be however their reluctance to do what the people want does not make them look good.

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ivor says...
8:04pm Sun 18 Dec 11

Re the comments of Lawrence Linehan at 5:09pm
~
I can assure you that this blog was no accident indeed I have been thinking of writing it for several months now but have held back until the time was right.

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ivor says...
8:05pm Sun 18 Dec 11

Re the comments of Edna_Welthorpe_ at 6:44pm
~
Thank you for your kind words of praise.

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Slacker says...
7:00pm Mon 19 Dec 11

brachyura wrote:
Hello Ivor,

Not sure the SWOp photo shows the fountain very clearly. Try this link (click on the photo to make them full screen).

http://postcardsthen

andnow.blogspot.com/

2011/04/high-wycombe

-buckinghamshire-fro

gmore.html

What a funny coincidence, the fountain isn't working in that one either.

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ivor says...
8:04pm Mon 19 Dec 11

Re the comments of Slacker at 7:00pm
~
I expect there was a good reason for example maybe they had shut the water supply down to clean the lovely fountain?

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gotanybiscuits? says...
8:23pm Mon 19 Dec 11

Please can we have a hamster wheel instead of a fountain?

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ivor says...
11:32pm Mon 19 Dec 11

Re the comments of gotanybiscuits? at 8:23pm
~
Why would you prefer a hamster wheel?

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Jacqui-blue says...
1:39am Tue 20 Dec 11

Hamster wheel? aren't there enough rodents wandering the streets ? re slacker: i have pictures of the fountain working,it only stopped when the water from hughendon dryed up,have a little faith if we get a replica one it will work,just believe me it will even if i have to organise a bring a glass of water party on frogmoor,i have a cunning plan!!go on Ivor,sort em out,make them believe!!

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ivor says...
1:44am Tue 20 Dec 11

Re the comments of Jacqui-blue at 1:39am
~
I'm sure they all believe in the Frogmoor fountain and would like to see it resurrected.
~
Are you certain that the water came from Hughenden? It must have taken quite a bit of pressure to drive the water up to such a height in the air besides it must have been a recirculating fountain as surely water was taken from the large bowl at the base and continually cycled around? If the water had come from a new source (e.g. the river) there must have been somewhere for the water to go otherwise it would have overflowed.
~
Well done on starting the Facebook group, you have my full support and I would so like to see the fountain restored to Frogmoor how it used to be!

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ivor says...
1:51am Tue 20 Dec 11

Re the comments of Jacqui-blue at 1:39am
~
Now, I am only speculating here but either the fountain was powered by an external engine or there was a tank situated at a great height providing the head of water. If it was powered by a tank that would explain why it stopped working, i.e. the tank had to fill up. Where could a tank be put (if there was one)? Is it any coincidence there is a railway viaduct nearby...?

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Jacqui-blue says...
1:54am Tue 20 Dec 11

that's my theory,and yes the water was recycled from the bowl,but remember there was no electricity when it was built and if there was it was rare,once water is charged through the system it could fall back to the bowl or maybe a storage tank underneath with a water driven pump somwhere in line near the tank it could work itself this would make it absolutly green and incurr no running power costs,just occasional servicing,like i said the theory is there just need to test it out with a mock up,means i will have to put some engineering skills in to practice,and this will take a little time,never say die,all genius' started this way,oops seem to have found a trumpet under my chair,hell! why shouldn't i blow it myself?,no one else will! yours truly-marvelous-magn
ificent and wonderful(LOL!)jacqu
i-blue.

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ivor says...
2:05am Tue 20 Dec 11

Re the comments of Jacqui-blue at 1:54am
~
You may find the following link of interest:
~
http://friargatebrid
ge.blogspot.com/2011
/06/how-victorian-fo
untains-were-powered
.html
~
I wonder when the first public waterworks opened in Wycombe? That could be the key to determining how the fountain was powered, however it would mean the water just flowed away so it would not be very green. According to the article at the link I just gave my theory of a header tank located high up (e.g. on the viaduct) was a plausible way of powering fountains back then!
~
I found a trumpet under my chair once but I blew it so hard the trumpet bust....

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ivor says...
2:05am Tue 20 Dec 11

Re the comments of Jacqui-blue at 1:54am
~
You may find the following link of interest:
~
http://friargatebrid
ge.blogspot.com/2011
/06/how-victorian-fo
untains-were-powered
.html
~
I wonder when the first public waterworks opened in Wycombe? That could be the key to determining how the fountain was powered, however it would mean the water just flowed away so it would not be very green. According to the article at the link I just gave my theory of a header tank located high up (e.g. on the viaduct) was a plausible way of powering fountains back then!
~
I found a trumpet under my chair once but I blew it so hard the trumpet bust....

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ivor says...
2:05am Tue 20 Dec 11

Re the comments of Jacqui-blue at 1:54am
~
You may find the following link of interest:
~
http://friargatebrid
ge.blogspot.com/2011
/06/how-victorian-fo
untains-were-powered
.html
~
I wonder when the first public waterworks opened in Wycombe? That could be the key to determining how the fountain was powered, however it would mean the water just flowed away so it would not be very green. According to the article at the link I just gave my theory of a header tank located high up (e.g. on the viaduct) was a plausible way of powering fountains back then!
~
I found a trumpet under my chair once but I blew it so hard the trumpet bust....

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ivor says...
2:15am Tue 20 Dec 11

Re the comments of Jacqui-blue at 1:54am
~
I hope this helps with your research but the fountain at this link looks remarkably like the old Frogmoor fountain:
~
http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Steble_Foun
tain
~
It seems the method of using a gravity feed was popular in the 1800's (see link below):
~
http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Fountains_i
n_the_United_Kingdom

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Jacqui-blue says...
2:58am Tue 20 Dec 11

Yes the steble fountain is very similar just needs the herons around the tiers but a good comparison,well done ivor,the articles on the workings are very interesting,just goes to show that the victorians were very ingenious and it could still work with a little modern thinking on top,we could definatly make it run much longer than a couple of hrs with the technology now available.

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Jacqui-blue says...
2:58am Tue 20 Dec 11

Yes the steble fountain is very similar just needs the herons around the tiers but a good comparison,well done ivor,the articles on the workings are very interesting,just goes to show that the victorians were very ingenious and it could still work with a little modern thinking on top,we could definatly make it run much longer than a couple of hrs with the technology now available.

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ivor says...
3:03am Tue 20 Dec 11

Re the comments of Jacqui-blue at 2:58am
~
I have just discovered that the Steble fountain was powered by a steam pump (see the Steble fountain section near the end of this page):
~
http://www.virtualto
urist.com/travel/Eur
ope/United_Kingdom/E
ngland/Merseyside/Li
verpool-309600/Thing
s_To_Do-Liverpool-Ci
ty_Centre_Buildiings
-BR-1.html
~
Its interesting to note that the Steble fountain is a Grade II listed building in its own right.
~
I am now thinking that our Frogmoor fountain was of a stock design with three tiers and an ornament on the top, of course the decorative figures were changed from design to design.
~
If we were making a new fountain I'm sure an electric pump would do the job quite nicely.

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Jacqui-blue says...
3:18am Tue 20 Dec 11

Yes electric would work fine but brings cost so i still believe it could power itself by water force on a concealed wheel driving the pump from water falling from the bowl into the reservoir tank below,therefore pumping it back to the top to restart the cycle if the gearing is right it would be very very efficient and save much money ,yes our fountain was very large as u know,and if it had still been in place it would have been a listed structure and safe from the vulture council,god! i must get some sleep my eyes are playing tricks on me,the keyboard is moving about,or is it me?must get into bed before sunrise or i'll turn to dust,cheers ivor.

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gotanybiscuits? says...
1:35pm Tue 20 Dec 11

Jacqui-blue wrote:
Yes electric would work fine but brings cost so i still believe it could power itself by water force on a concealed wheel driving the pump from water falling from the bowl into the reservoir tank below,therefore pumping it back to the top to restart the cycle if the gearing is right it would be very very efficient and save much money ,yes our fountain was very large as u know,and if it had still been in place it would have been a listed structure and safe from the vulture council,god! i must get some sleep my eyes are playing tricks on me,the keyboard is moving about,or is it me?must get into bed before sunrise or i'll turn to dust,cheers ivor.

Instead of a concealed wheel, how about a hamster wheel?
We'd never have to worry about a water shortage.

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Jacqui-blue says...
3:30pm Tue 20 Dec 11

Well,i have been on the phone and internet all morning and have spoken to all the pet shops in the world of our galaxy! but to no avail,not one can supply a twenty foot size hamster capable of turning a water wheel,spose the next best thing would be an elephant? That is unless Gotanybiscuits can genericaly breed one for us,but,who the hell is gonna feed it?and what with?,i certainly have never grown a sunflower big enough to supply seeds 12 feet in length,Hmm!,how about an elephant on speed,,oops isn't that illegal,ok,we can grease the mamal instead,once a day,any volunteers? oh boy,love these Goon shows,who else has a lend lease brain out there? ha ha ! i'm outta here!,
sincerely:
jacqui-blue.

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gotanybiscuits? says...
8:21pm Tue 20 Dec 11

Elephant?
No! That could be considered cruel.
Get the journalists locked in it.
.
I fancy Ivor resembles a hamster, in many ways........
.
He'll be along soon, looking for the fountain of yoof

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ivor says...
9:43pm Tue 20 Dec 11

Re the comments of Jacqui-blue at 3:18am
~
If you perfected your self-propelling fountain you would have cracked one of the so far elusive concepts in science and produced a perpetual motion machine!
~
I feel there will have to be mechanical or electrical input somewhere in the machine to make the water flow. Maybe it could be a solar powered fountain?
~
If only our wonderful fountain had survived it would have been a credit to the town. Let's hope we can get it reinstated soon....

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ivor says...
9:43pm Tue 20 Dec 11

Re the comments of gotanybiscuits? at 1:35pm
~
Ah, so you think the hamster wheel would provide the power to the fountain! I thought you just wanted a great hamster wheel instead of the fountain....

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ivor says...
9:43pm Tue 20 Dec 11

Re the comments of Jacqui-blue at 3:30pm
~
While there aren't that many hamsters on Frogmoor I wonder if the power of the Frogmoor pigeons could be harnessed to power the fountain after all there are lots of pigeons on Frogmoor....

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ivor says...
10:12pm Tue 20 Dec 11

Re the comments of gotanybiscuits? at 8:21pm
~
I can assure you that I do not resemble a hamster in any shape or form.
~
Sadly the fountain of youth ran dry for me years ago....

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clairabella says...
6:53am Wed 21 Dec 11

Why don't we run a competition to the whole town. There are so many creative companies and individuals. We don't need to just repeat what was. Work can also be given to local people not contracted out.
Let's make this a community space for all.
Less words more action I say Ivor can you get bucks free press involved in a positive way. Why not launch competition in may when mayor event on then announce winner in October.
Vote by public

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clairabella says...
6:59am Wed 21 Dec 11

Sorry to post again Ivor but wondered if you could help me with something.
If you go to the bucks free press website and click on Wycombe town you will see this was last updated in September.
There has been loads going on in the community and we are keeping BFP updated with emails , phone calls even placing ads in paper.
How do we get BFP involved I'm at my wits end it's do sad. Wycombe is a great place but if we can't tell people then everyone will only see the bad.
I look forward to any suggestions you may have. Thank you

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Lawrence Linehan says...
6:52pm Wed 21 Dec 11

Igor - Hamster of Evil.

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ivor says...
7:26pm Wed 21 Dec 11

Re the comments of clairabella at 6:53am
~
I think we should restore Frogmoor back to how it was at the turn of the 20th Century.
~
We tried the modern design of fountain and it failed, let's keep with what we know works.
~
If the restoration of Frogmoor was handled correctly we could perhaps get a television company to follow the renovation works. There was a programme recently called “The Manor Reborn”, how about “Frogmoor reborn” or “The public square reborn”.
~
There is now a Facebook group devoted to getting Frogmoor put back to how it was, for more information see: https://www.facebook
.com/groups/26989533
6392507/

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ivor says...
7:27pm Wed 21 Dec 11

Re the comments of clairabella at 6:53am
~
I think we should restore Frogmoor back to how it was at the turn of the 20th Century.
~
We tried the modern design of fountain and it failed, let's keep with what we know works.
~
If the restoration of Frogmoor was handled correctly we could perhaps get a television company to follow the renovation works. There was a programme recently called “The Manor Reborn”, how about “Frogmoor reborn” or “The public square reborn”.
~
There is now a Facebook group devoted to getting Frogmoor put back to how it was, for more information see: https://www.facebook
.com/groups/26989533
6392507/

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ivor says...
7:27pm Wed 21 Dec 11

Re the comments of clairabella at 6:59am
~
It would probably be best if you gave the BFP a call on the telephone.

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ivor says...
7:27pm Wed 21 Dec 11

Re the comments of Lawrence Linehan at 6:52pm
~
I can assure you that I am much larger than a hamster and I am most definitely not evil....

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Jacqui-blue says...
1:03am Thu 22 Dec 11

Online petition now up and running link as follows:
http://www.ipetition
s.com/petition/fount
ain-for-frogmoor-hig
h-wycombe
please peruse and sign for a better looking frogmoor and restore to it's former glory with a full replica of the long lost victorian fountan.
sincerely jacqui-blue.

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Jacqui-blue says...
1:07am Thu 22 Dec 11

petition now online to sign just click on link at bottom,petition web address is:
http://www.ipetition
s.com/petition/�
�fountain-for-frogmo
or-high-wycombe

good luck and spread the word please.

Petition fountain for frogmoor high wycombe

www.ipetitions.com

This is petition for fountain for frogmoor high wycombe. Join the movement! Sign now!

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Jacqui-blue says...
1:13am Thu 22 Dec 11

http://www.ipetition
s.com/petition/�
�fountain-for-frogmo
or-high-wycombe

good luck and spread the word please.
god !!one of these has got to work.

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ivor says...
2:37am Thu 22 Dec 11

Re the comments of Jacqui-blue at 1:03am
~
I've signed the petition!
~
Let's hope we can get the fountain back on Frogmoor so everyone can enjoy that part of town as it was meant to be.

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clairabella says...
12:41pm Thu 22 Dec 11

ivor wrote:
Re the comments of clairabella at 6:59am ~ It would probably be best if you gave the BFP a call on the telephone.

Tried that. Oh well if your local paper isn't interested what can you do!

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cmilsom says...
7:21pm Thu 22 Dec 11

This was tried 6-10 years ago....and failed thats why there are about 10 circles of concrete - lets face it, frogmoor is a dive and the only good place there is the chilterns shopping centre, with primark and wilkos in. If they need to do something make it nice and move that awful place, Yates.

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Jacqui-blue says...
8:22pm Thu 22 Dec 11

Ok in the right mood for that comment,and i apologise for being blunt,it's attitudes like that which cause **** ups in the first place,i have lived here all my life and at least i care,sooo,if you want frogmoor moved then may i suggest that you move it yourself,and the chilterns you say is nice,well hmmm!i don't think so,it is all a concrete monstrosity,ps:if you do manage to move frogmoor may i suggest that you take the chiltern shopping centre with it. if you can find a van big enough.!!! yours a little insincerely for once (very bad hair day)
jacqui-blue

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J B Blackett says...
12:52am Fri 23 Dec 11

Jacqui-blue wrote:
Ok in the right mood for that comment,and i apologise for being blunt,it's attitudes like that which cause **** ups in the first place,i have lived here all my life and at least i care,sooo,if you want frogmoor moved then may i suggest that you move it yourself,and the chilterns you say is nice,well hmmm!i don't think so,it is all a concrete monstrosity,ps:if you do manage to move frogmoor may i suggest that you take the chiltern shopping centre with it. if you can find a van big enough.!!! yours a little insincerely for once (very bad hair day)
jacqui-blue

I'm with you, Jacqui-blue. Why do these people make all these nasty unnecessary offensive comments about Wycombe (which has been attempted to be partially vandalised, ruined by careless laissez-faire stupid planning , greed and incompetent thoughtless out-of-touch councillors and their lackeys).
.
These people ready with their insults and anti-Wycombe attitudes ought really to have a good look at their reasons for being so offensive and then sort their own house first , before slagging off others, imo
.
It's not the people of Wycombe who have tried to make a pig's ear of everything around the town. It's the grotesque Council with its idiotic ('Huge TV Screen') time-servers and self-serving megalomaniacs.
.
Wycombe should be spared further exploitation and damage and idiotic so-called 'deveopment' - but only with the permission of the people - and certainly not by a gang of oxygen thieves, double-dealers and fork-tongued spivs.
.
But that might be just the opinion of a few of us (so far)
.
Regards to you , Jacqui-blue

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ivor says...
1:30am Fri 23 Dec 11

Re the comments of clairabella at 12:41pm
~
Well, I have never had any problems when I have called on the phone. I can only suggest a letter to the editor, maybe that will do the trick?

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ivor says...
1:30am Fri 23 Dec 11

Re the comments of cmilsom at 7:21pm
~
The recent fountain failed because it was too modern and not properly thought out, a bit like the giant TV screen really!
~
If we had the old fountain back I am sure it would be a great success.

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ivor says...
1:30am Fri 23 Dec 11

Re the comments of Jacqui-blue at 8:22pm
~
There are bound to be those who don't support the resurrection of the original fountain however I think they are in the minority!

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ivor says...
1:31am Fri 23 Dec 11

Re the comments of J B Blackett at 12:52am
~
Hello JBB, we haven't heard from you lately indeed I was only think about you the other day.
~
I fully agree with everything you say, it's the powers that be who have ruined Wycombe and they continue to do so to this very day. Maybe you should read my column in the printed version of this weeks Bucks Free Press to read more of my views on this subject.
~
Best wishes for Christmas and hope you return to comment on my blog again soon, you presence is dearly missed.

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Jacqui-blue says...
2:13pm Fri 23 Dec 11

Hmm,yes i was a bit sharp the other night,but apologies,had a bad night somewhere,and probably found a way of releasing anger on some poor unsuspecting commentist,hah ok ! the petition is well under way on the internet,the nxt move after that if no-one listens could be to occupy the frogmoor area with a tent village,till we get some sense from the wdc,personaly i would rename them just WC,as that is all we have experienced so far. maybe my last resort should be to follow cromwells theory or befriend guy fawkes,let the revolution of frogmoor begin!!!
sincerely jacqui-blue.

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ivor says...
2:26am Sat 24 Dec 11

Re the comments of Jacqui-blue at 2:13pm
~
I see that quite a few people have signed up for the petition already....

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ivor says...
2:26am Sat 24 Dec 11

Re the comments of Jacqui-blue at 2:13pm
~
I see that quite a few people have signed up for the petition already....

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ivor says...
2:26am Sat 24 Dec 11

Re the comments of Jacqui-blue at 2:13pm
~
I see that quite a few people have signed up for the petition already....

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Jacqui-blue says...
2:43am Sat 24 Dec 11

Early days yet Ivor,i will be fully satisfied when santa's taken it round the world for me!! wishing you a merry christmas Ivor?,,,and a happy new year,all the best-
sincerely Jacqui-blue.

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ivor says...
2:52am Sat 24 Dec 11

Re the comments of Jacqui-blue at 2:43am
~
Happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year to you too, I really hope that we can get the wonderful old fountain restored to Frogmoor.
~
Have you seen my latest musings in this weeks printed version of the Bucks Free Press?

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Jacqui-blue says...
3:26am Sat 24 Dec 11

re Ivors comment reply: yes i always enjoy your column,it's about time someone took the helm and spoke out their inner most thoughts,lovely to see the public roused with such spiritous vigour,mind you i quite enjoy colin bakers column too,can you ask to borrow the tardis so we can go and investigate the fountain closely,hey!maybe a dalek or two might be a good defence against the TV screen ie:"Good evening!this is the BBC news" to which the reply would possibly go"Do-not-move--or-y
ou-wil-be-exterminat
ed---emergency--emer
gency!!!". hmm,sounds more like Boris the mayor really,,ah well never mind perhaps the daleks could rant in francais lingo,now that would be interesting!oh well must go feed the cyberman and walk his dog,noisy little thing,with those metal paws!the neighbours do complain!! i give a toast,,Here's to the fountains return"cheers!"
sincerely
Jacqui-blue(painous-
gratitous-glorious)

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Jacqui-blue says...
3:26am Sat 24 Dec 11

re Ivors comment reply: yes i always enjoy your column,it's about time someone took the helm and spoke out their inner most thoughts,lovely to see the public roused with such spiritous vigour,mind you i quite enjoy colin bakers column too,can you ask to borrow the tardis so we can go and investigate the fountain closely,hey!maybe a dalek or two might be a good defence against the TV screen ie:"Good evening!this is the BBC news" to which the reply would possibly go"Do-not-move--or-y
ou-wil-be-exterminat
ed---emergency--emer
gency!!!". hmm,sounds more like Boris the mayor really,,ah well never mind perhaps the daleks could rant in francais lingo,now that would be interesting!oh well must go feed the cyberman and walk his dog,noisy little thing,with those metal paws!the neighbours do complain!! i give a toast,,Here's to the fountains return"cheers!"
sincerely
Jacqui-blue(painous-
gratitous-glorious)

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In need of a fountain? Frogmoor as we know it today.

In need of a fountain? Frogmoor as we know it today.

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The perfect wife and mother, Rebecca runs a home, a bad temper and is working on her novel. She enjoys photography, playing the piano and likes almost anything that's out of fashion and uncool. She lives in Amersham with her husband and youngest child (aged ten). Her eldest, now 27, lives and works in Buckinghamshire.

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