 |
The Grand
Cascade is the largest water feature of
its kind in the UK. |
| |
The Grand Cascade runs down the main north
south axis of the site and forms the centrepiece
for the entire garden. Constructed in a series
of 21 weirs, 7,260 gallons of water per minute
tumble down it at peak flow. |
| |
Made of Darney Stone from West Woodburn
in Northumberland, the Grand Cascade is split
into two apparent sections. Water falls down
the first 17 weirs, disappearing into four
large bell mouth openings, to reappear at the
other side of a walkway in four 'mounds' of
water. In total there are over 323 metres of
weirs in the Grand Cascade. |
| |
The water displays within the Grand Cascade
are automatically switched on at 10am daily
and change sequence every half-hour throughout
the day, with four sequences in total. |
| |
During the sequences, three large central
jets reach a height of six metres, with 40
smaller jets sending water four metres into
the air. 80 side jets form parabolas of water
to the centre of the Grand Cascade and four
jumping jets issue from the four bell mouths,
firing streams of water over the walkway into
the Lower Basin below. The climax of the display
is an eruption of 38 jets forming an eruption
of water, which at its peak, reaches a height
of 6 metres. |
| |
The sequences are computer-controlled
by state of the art equipment in the 2 pump
rooms below the Grand Cascade. |
| |
| The Grand Cascade has been designed to be as
environmentally friendly as possible. As such,
250,000 gallons of water are stored underground
at any given time, and are filtered and recycled.
The Grand Cascade re-circulates its water up
and down a vertical drop of 10 metres, and it
is treated with hydrogen peroxide. In the event
of heavy rain, overflow water is run to settlement
ponds before being discharged into the nearby
River Aln, without fear of contamination. |
| |
 |
|
|
 |
When creating the Grand Cascade the builders
used a giant crane more likely to be seen working
on building oil rigs than a garden! The crane
was used to move and position the stone from
its point at the base of the embankment. This
technique was used in order to protect the
banks on either side of the Grand Cascade from
the damage which would have been caused by
trucks driving up and down the slope. These
listed embankments date back to a previous
garden designed by WA Nesfield and are all
that remains of his vision for Alnwick. |
| |
|
| |
| 149,000 block paving stones have
been used around the Grand Cascade and its pergolas
- it would take you all day to count them. |
| |
| |
 |
At the base of the main watercourse, the
visitor is surrounded by the noise and splashing
of water. From here, crescent-shaped stairs
lead up to the intermediate level. From this
belvedere, it is possible to continue up on
either side of the Grand Cascade or turn onto
pathways under hornbeam pergolas. |
| |
| The 850 hornbeams have been specially imported
from Van Den Berk's nurseries in Holland; they
were brought to The Garden as twelve year old
standards and are being trained to a metal frame
support. Designed with 'windows' facing out on
the Grand Cascade, the visitor will be uncertain
once the trees mature, where the walk starts
and ends. |
|
