A celebration to mark the completion of the Victoria Fountain restoration project and its return to the Old Steine, will be held on Thursday, October 12.
Councillors, community groups, local historians and specialists involved with the restoration project, will gather at the Old Steine to celebrate the historic milestone, and see the working fountain restored to its former glory.
The event will include cutting the ribbon by Brighton & Hove Mayor Councillor Jackie O’Quinn, a blessing with members of Fountain International and a special performance by The Wellington Wailers Sea Shanty group.
Experts who have skilfully restored the cast iron fountain and council officers who managed the project will be on hand to talk about project and history of the iconic Brighton landmark.
Work on the £400,000 restoration project began in December 2022 when, following significant structural problems, the fountain was switched off, dismantled and transported to Leicester, where specialist restoration work was been carried out.
This has included cleaning and repairing the large cast iron dolphins and fountain pool and decorative ‘egg-and-dart’ moulding ring using the innovative ‘Fusion Cast’ process which involves welding cast iron.
The fountain returned to the Old Steine in April to be carefully re-assembled on a new reinforced concrete base and fitted with new electrics, pumps and water pipes and a new lighting scheme which provides red, green, blue and white lighting which can be controlled to mark special occasions.
Located in the centre of the southern enclosure of the Old Steine Gardens, the Victoria Fountain has a fascinating history.
The 32 ft three-tier monument includes a large, cast-iron pool with a rim decorated with egg-and-dart mouldings and was originally filled with water lilies and goldfish.
The Sarsen stones in the centre of the pool were found in the Steine by workers digging a trench in 1823. The sandstone blocks support three intertwined dolphins, upon which rests a shallow, cast-iron basin. Above this are two columns with an additional basin.
