Project summary
De-silting lake at historic house
Little Malvern Court is a 15th century Prior’s Hall, once attached to the 12th century Benedictine Priory, with its tower dominating the views. The house and its 10 acres of grounds and gardens are open to the public from April to July each year.
MJ Abbott were approached by Hugh Thomas, Head Gardener of Little Malvern Court, following a recommendation by Michael Balston of Balston Agius Architects. We were asked to prepare our recommendations and estimate for works required to remove an existing failed overflow structure, the formation of a new overflow structure and stream/cascade system and the cleaning out and de-silting of the existing lake.
The proposed cascade and overflow structure was to be built more in keeping with the rest of the estate and surrounding features, and not to follow the timber structure that had been constructed in the 1960s during a large renovation project to the Priory and grounds.
The works commenced in September 2014, comprising:
- Removal of existing overflow structure to ease the draining down of the lake
- Removal of existing silt and unwanted plants by mechanical excavator and slurry tanker
- Cut and fill overflow cascades through lake banks to form the profile of the proposed feature
- Construction of new hollow block retaining wall
- Selection and collection of large on-site rocks
- Installation of 3 layer liner to ensure the stream was watertight and to prevent erosion during severe flows
- Placement of large rocks over the liner, set in concrete
- Placement of smaller rocks, haunched and bedded in concrete to provide a base to the stream and form a number of collection pools and cascades
- Construction of two concrete pads for the future installation of a timber bridge over the stream
- Placement of a layer of imported puddle clay over the wall, foundations and liner to ensure a water tight seal on the main lake.
The works were completed in early October 2014.
The gardens at Little Malvern Court opened again to the public in spring 2015, by which time the garden team had completed the planting around the new feature and lake banks and installed a bespoke oak bridge crossing the feature.
