Grant Road Spring

Heritage object

Grant Road, Thorndon, Wellington
❰ ❱
Image: WCC, 2011
Image: WCC, 2011
Image: WCC, 2912
Image: WCC, 2912
image:WCC, 2014

Image: WCC, 2014

Image: WCC, 2014

Image: WCC, 2014

Image: WCC, 2014
Image: WCC, 2014
Image: WCC, 2014
Image: WCC, 2014
Image: WCC, 2012
Image: WCC, 2012
Image: WCC Archives reference 00107_1_292
Image: WCC Archives reference 00107_1_292
Map

  • Constructed

    c.1911 - 1913

  • Architect(s)

    WCC Architect - Charles E Stone

  • Builder(s)

  • The Grant Road Spring and Drinking Fountain is associated with the suburban development of Thorndon and Wadestown and the creation of civic amenities. The fountain was an extremely important source of fresh water for local residents and businesses such as J Staples and Co.  

    The fountain has had few major modifications made and is in reasonably authentic condition. It has been through some restoration and repair and is no longer connected to the natural spring, but it retains significant original materials and integrity.

    The Grant Road Spring and Drinking Fountain is of significant townscape value as it has a prominent location at the intersection of Grant Road and Park Street. It contributes well to the character and sense of place on Grant Road and helps to define the area.

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  • close History
    • This drinking fountain, found at the corner of Park Street and Grant Road, was built some time between 1911 and 1913 and was an extremely important source of fresh water for local residents and businesses such as J Staples and Co.   

      Thorndon and Wadestown have a long history of settlement that belongs to both Maori and Europeans. Prior to European settlement, this area was used by Maori as a trail to access areas around Lambton Harbour, and the West Coast around Makara Beach, and there were a number of fresh water springs along what is now Wadestown Road. These natural springs were an extremely important source of fresh water for early settlers in the Thorndon and Wadestown area, particularly as there was no other supply of potable water. In 1871 the brewer John Staples was granted leave by the Wellington City Council “for conveyance of water from the spring in Grant Road to his premises in Murphy Street”, where he had established his brewing company five years earlier. No piping method is mentioned, so it is probable that Staples filled tanks and carted them to the brewery. 

      By the 1880s, water mains were being laid in Grant Road (constructed 1860s) to bring water to the residents of Karori, and the Thomas Ward map of 1891 shows a four-inch water main coming up Park Street, meeting a three-inch main running north and south along Grant Road. In 1882 the Grant Road Spring was covered and became a culvert and in 1894 J Staples and Co applied to Wellington City Council for permission to “place protective measures around the spring in Grant Road”, presumably to improve the draw off for the brewery. At this time a cistern was constructed from which the fountain later drew its water. In a later letter (1935) the city valuer stated that the ‘underground reservoir and water supply’ had been constructed by Messrs Harold Beauchamp and J. Ziman, and specifies that it is on their property (section 651). There was a house on the property by this time but it is likely that Beauchamp and Ziman had a commercial arrangement with the brewery. 
      In 1894, Councillor Anderson suggested that the brewery be charged a fee for taking water from the spring, and then the Council could use the money to create a recreation ground for that Northern end of the city. The following year the motion was withdrawn and the question of charging for the water was referred to the City Solicitor. When other businesses and industries discovered that the water supply was under discussion, many lobbied to use the water from the spring. This began an interesting issue in Wellington, in which debate was focussed upon the access to municipally owned resources for private gain without the city benefitting. In light of this, solicitors Edward Brown and Edwin Dean took legal action against the brewery to ‘conserve the Grant Road Spring water for residents’, which resulted in the Staples Brewery having to pay for the water at the same rate as other metered supplies. Staples were granted rights to take water from the spring for a ten year period. 

      In 1897, the Staples Brewery purchased section 651 in order to lay a pipe from the spring to the brewery, and the pipeline was left in place when Burnell Ave was formed later in that year. 

      The spring caused a lot of problems for the newly formed roads, and several attempts were made to solve the issue, including the installation of a ‘rubble drain’ to take the overflow. Water, however, continued to accumulate and attention was drawn to a ‘duck pond’ on Grant Road and the nuisances that emanated from it. 

      By 1904, a tap had been added to the cistern and many of the residents relied upon it for their water. A letter from Edwin Dean that year complained that the tap had been broken, and that ‘hundreds of people who get their water from there are now debarred from doing so’; it was repaired in January 1905. 

      1905 also saw the Staples lease to take water end, and despite the brewery wishing to continue the arrangement, it was not renewed. The spring continued to cause problems for the roadway, and it was suggested by the Town Clerk that ‘a properly constructed well be made with overflow to the gutter’. The City Engineer proposes that a cross drain be constructed. Work was undertaken by the WCC in 1906 to improve the supply from the spring and to stop it overflowing into the road, but this work is not well documented.

      In 1910 the problems with overflow were still not resolved, so it was proposed to the City Engineer by the Baths and City Reserves Committee to submit a design and estimate costs for building a drinking fountain for the Grant Road spring. Nothing was done to make this occur until mid 1911 when Councillor Atkinson pursued the matter, and was told that ‘the matter is left in the hands of the Mayor and City Engineer to settle’, and a month later the erection of a fountain was approved. The cost was estimated at £35 and Council Architect Charles E. Stone prepared plans for ‘Grant Road Fountain’. The fountain was, however, not built until some time in 1913. 

      The fountain and spring became an important source of water, particularly during water shortages, when fountains that were fed from the city mains were turned off. In 1935 it was noted that while other springs throughout the city dried up, the Grant Road spring “continues to give a generous supply of clear, icy cold, crystal water”.          

      In 1961, the water in the fountain was tested, and there was a high count of E Coli found intermittently in the water. It is presumed that it was local pollution coming from septic tanks or leaking pipes further up the hill. At this time, the water supply from the spring was disconnected and water provided from the town mains. 

      In 2010 Wellington Electricity proposed to replace the 33kV cables that run from an existing connection on Pipitea Street, through Thorndon, Wadestown, and Crofton Downs to the Wilton Substation. While not physically affecting the fountain, it was included in archaeological assessments and monitoring.  In 2011 the fountain underwent some repair work to fix a leaking pipe.  

  • close Architectural Information
    • Building Classification(s) close

      Not assessed

    • Architecture close

      Although this public drinking fountain is essentially a utilitarian structure, it is well designed and beautifully composed built in brick, concrete, and tiles. The design is influenced by Stripped Classical, and features simplistic ornamentation in the form of a brick string course that creates an impression of a flowing rounded stepped pediment. It is symmetrical, with the fountain in the centre being flanked by two stepped ‘wings’. The basin of the fountain is a rounded concrete tub surmounted by a brick arch which is set into the concrete, while the fountain ‘tap’ is backed by tiles. 

    • Materials close

      Concrete, brick, tiles

    • Setting close

      The Grant Road Spring and Fountain is located near to the intersection of Grant Road and Park Street in Thorndon. It is part of Queens Park and is flanked by a set of stairs leading to Wadestown Road and garden. The immediate setting is grass, paths, and steps, but further north is plantings of various types. Opposite the fountain are houses and apartments of the mid section of Grant Road. In the area is also the Nathan Memorial Fountain another item listed on the Wellington City Council District Plan. 

  • close Cultural Value
    • The Grant Road Spring and Drinking Fountain is associated with the suburban development of Thorndon and Wadestown and the creation of civic amenities. The fountain was an extremely important source of fresh water for local residents and businesses such as J Staples and Co.  
    • The fountain has had few major modifications made and is in reasonably authentic condition. It has been through some restoration and repair and is no longer connected to the natural spring, but it retains significant original materials and integrity.
    • The Grant Road Spring and Drinking Fountain is of significant townscape value as it has a prominent location at the intersection of Grant Road and Park Street. It contributes well to the character and sense of place on Grant Road and helps to define the area. 
    • Aesthetic Value close

      • Townscape

        Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?

        The Grant Road Spring and Drinking Fountain is of significant townscape value as it has a prominent location at the intersection of Grant Road and Park Street. It contributes well to the character and sense of place on Grant Road and helps to define the area. 

    • Historic Value close

      • Association

        Is the item associated with an important historic event, theme, pattern, phase, or activity?

        The Grant Road Spring and Drinking Fountain is associated with the suburban development of Thorndon and Wadestown and the creation of civic amenities. The fountain was an extremely important source of fresh water for local residents and businesses such as J Staples and Co.   

    • Scientific Value close

      • Archaeological

        Does the item have archaeological value for its ability to provide scientific information about past human activity?

        The risk of discovery is unknown, although the area is included in the NZAA Central City Archaeological Area and is known to have been occupied by Maori pre 1840. 

      • Technological

        Does the item have technological value for its innovative or important construction methods or use of materials?

        There is technical value in the construction of the Grant Road Spring and Fountain, particularly in the former connection to the cistern and natural spring.  

    • Social Value close

      Not assessed

    • Level of Cultural Heritage Significance close

      • Authentic

        Does the item have authenticity or integrity because it retains significant fabric from the time of its construction or from later periods when important additions or modifications were carried out?

        The fountain has had few major modifications made and is in reasonably authentic condition. It has been through some restoration and repair and is no longer connected to the natural spring, but it retains significant original materials and integrity. 

    • Local / Regional / National / International Importance close

      Not assessed

  • close Site Detail

    • District Plan Number

      18/18

    • Legal Description

      Pt Lot 1 DP 8709

    • Heritage New Zealand Listed

      Not listed

    • Archaeological Site

      NZAA Central City Archaeological Area R27/270, Pre 1900 activity (Māori)

    • Current Uses

      unknown

    • Former Uses

      unknown

    • Has building been funded

      No

    • Funding Amount

      Not applicable

    • Earthquake Prone Status

      Unknown

  • close Additional Information

Last updated: 9/25/2017 8:40:20 PM