A POPULAR water feature in the grounds of one of Cumbria’s best-loved attractions has been painstakingly restored to its former glory.
Ageing pointing and leaks meant the Neptune Cascade, at Grade II listed Holker Hall, had been reduced to a trickle for a number of years.
Now the striking limestone feature is set to enthral thousands of visitors this year as water is finally allowed to tumble gracefully down through the award-winning grounds of the stately home.
Glyn Sherratt, head gardener at Holker Hall, said he was looking forward to seeing the cascade in full flow this summer.
“The Neptune Cascade is a very special structure and one we know is popular with the thousands of people who visit the gardens here at Holker Hall every year.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to use it at full power because it had acquired leaks which took some creative thinking to repair.
“The scheme to restore it to its former glory has taken some time this winter and involved a lot of hard work, but we’re all already delighted with the results.”
The cascades are located with the 25 acres of gardens and grounds at Holker Hall, in Cark, near Grange-over-Sands.
They were built by estate staff more than 30 years ago to a design created by Lord and Lady Cavendish.
The feature begins at a 17th Century marble statue of Neptune, with water from a natural spring guided down a series of rills and falls towards the Burlington Fountain.
It is one of the best-loved landmarks in the formal gardens.
Work to restore the cascade to its former glory took eight weeks and involved fixing a number of leaks as well as repointing the entire structure.
It is now set to provide a full display of water for the thousands of visitors expected to enjoy Holker Hall and Gardens this year.
Glyn added: “Seeing water tumbling down the Neptune Cascade is a spectacular sight so we’re all now looking forward to what promises to be an exciting 2019 season for visitors old and new.”
