A Victorian waterfall in South London could flow again for the first time in more than 50 years, as £3.4 million plans to restore it move forward.
Wandsworth Council wants to bring back to life the Pulhamite Rockery and Cascades in Battersea Park by repairing and returning power supplies to the attraction.
The water feature became one of the main spectacles in the park when it was built in 1865. The attraction consisted of water running down a rare collection of artificial rocks, designed by landscaper James Pulham, into the park’s 10-acre boating lake.
However, the waterfall has not been fully operational for nearly 100 years. It was turned off between World War I and II and fell into disrepair, with attempts to repair it in the 1980s causing more damage.
The council has now won £654,757 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to put towards restoring the waterfall. The cash will allow it to carry out investigations and design how to restore it.
The funds will also help the authority to apply for a grant of £2.7 million to complete the project, which ultimately aims to protect the waterfall for decades to come.
This will require the council to repair damaged rockwork and install modern water and power systems at the attraction, along with creating new habitats by the lake. It plans to use renewable energy to power the waterfall in the long term.
The council wants to offer residents the chance to learn more about the history of Battersea through the project, particularly those from under-represented groups and deprived areas. It will train ‘citizen scientists’ to monitor species and wildlife in the park, with the aim of collecting better data to inform future decisions.
The council said charity Friends of Battersea Park, which helps to maintain the park, has been ‘fundamental in making this project a reality’.
A Friends of Battersea Park spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “The Friends of Battersea Park are keen that the cascades, such a historic feature in the park, should be restored and safeguarded as soon as possible. They strongly welcome this heritage lottery grant which will enable the first steps to be taken in this process.”
Labour councillor Judi Gasser, cabinet member for the environment, added: “Thanks to money raised we can now develop our plans alongside the community to get the historic cascades in Battersea Park running for the first time in over 50 years. As London Borough of Culture for 2025, we are excited to explore new ways of powering key features in the park, engaging local people and safeguarding this unique waterfall for generations to come.”
