The Public Garden Fountains

The Public Garden Fountains The water from springs and other sources was originally provided to the residents of nearby towns and cities by way of water fountains, whose purpose was largely practical, not aesthetic. In the years before electrical power, the spray of fountains was driven by gravity only, usually using an aqueduct or water source located far away in the surrounding mountains. Striking and impressive, prominent water fountains have been crafted as memorials in nearly all societies. If you saw the very first fountains, you probably would not identify them as fountains. Basic stone basins created from local material were the very first fountains, used for religious purposes and drinking water. The initial stone basins are thought to be from about 2000 BC. The first civilizations that used fountains depended on gravity to push water through spigots. Public Garden Fountains 054734443.jpg

The location of the fountains was influenced by the water source, which is why you’ll normally find them along reservoirs, waterways, or rivers. Fountains with embellished Gods, mythological monsters, and animals began to appear in Rome in about 6 BC, built from rock and bronze. The City of Rome had an elaborate system of aqueducts that supplied the water for the many fountains that were placed throughout the city.

Where did Fountains Begin?

Where did Fountains Begin? Fountains Begin? 7360371001341137.jpg

A fountain, an incredible piece of engineering, not only supplies drinking water as it pours into a basin, it can also launch water high into the air for a noteworthy effect.

From the beginning, outdoor fountains were soley there to serve as functional elements. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to provide them with potable water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Used until the nineteenth century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their origin of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from the power of gravity. Fountains were an excellent source of water, and also served to adorn living areas and memorialize the artist. Bronze or stone masks of wildlife and heroes were commonly seen on Roman fountains. Muslims and Moorish garden designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller versions of the gardens of paradise. To demonstrate his prominence over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. To mark the entryway of the restored Roman aqueducts, the Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries commissioned the building of baroque style fountains in the spot where the aqueducts entered the city of Rome

The end of the 19th century saw the rise in usage of indoor plumbing to supply drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to strictly decorative elements. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to permit fountains to bring in clean water and allow for beautiful water displays.

Embellishing city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the purposes of modern-day fountains.

Anglo Saxon Gardens at the Time of the Norman Conquest

Anglo Saxon Gardens at the Time of the Norman Conquest Anglo-Saxons experienced incredible modifications to their day-to-day lives in the latter half of the eleventh century due to the accession of the Normans. The Normans were better than the Anglo-Saxons at architecture and horticulture when they came into power. Still, home life, household architecture, and decoration were out of the question until the Normans taken over the entire population. Because of this, castles were cruder constructions than monasteries: Monasteries were usually significant stone buildings set in the biggest and most fertile valleys, while castles were constructed on windy crests where their residents devoted time and space to tasks for offense and defense. The serene method of gardening was unlikely in these bleak bastions. Berkeley Castle, perhaps the most unspoiled model of the early Anglo-Norman style of architecture, still exists now. It is said that the keep was created during William the Conqueror's time. A monumental terrace serves as a hindrance to invaders who would attempt to mine the walls of the building. One of these terraces, a charming bowling green, is covered grass and flanked by an aged yew hedge trimmed into the form of crude battlements.