ninesprings

ninesprings

Once the ornamental park of the Aldon estate

 

Now part of Yeovil Country Park, Ninesprings is, essentially, a broad-leaved woodland valley of some twenty acres on the south east edge of Yeovil with nine springs supplying water to small streams and ponds. The water issues into Dodham Brook and, ultimately, to the River Yeo.

In 1856 Vickery wrote "John Batten, Esq, and at Nine Springs, the property of the same gentleman. These springs afford a large supply of water, from two to three hogsheads a minute at least, and were they at an elevation sufficient to supply the town, they would be of great value."

It was developed as an ornamental park for the Aldon estate during the early nineteenth century (although its ownership was brought into question - see Yeovil Charities Scandal) and included walks, bridges, grottoes, springs and lakes. Until the middle of the twentieth century the public only had access by ticket obtainable from the owner, Colonel HB Batten, the Town Clerk.

 

From the diary of Louisa Harris ....

"19 August 1904: Went to Nine Springs this afternoon with Bessie and Maud [her sisters]. It is the first time I have been there as we always thought it impracticable to get there with the carriage [Louisa was wheelchair-bound throughout her life]. But by careful piloting and perseverance I was got right there and a rare treat I had. I could not have imagined there was such a lovely spot within our old prosey [sic] town. It is a veritable paradise, what with its magnificent growth of woods, its wealth of ferns, cascades, trickling springs, still pools, driplets, placid flowing stream, and its numerous many paths and other beauties innumerable."

"30 July 1906: We our and Lucy went to Nine Springs this afternoon and had tea at the cottage in the woods. We enjoyed our outing very much. It was so cool and pleasant in the woods, listening to the sound of the water. Tea was spread in a picturesque rustic porch looking down on a still pool bordered by woods, magnificent ferns and all manner of beautiful growths."

 

The once picturesque thatched cottage that appears in so many photographs of Ninesprings once served cream teas. The cottage suffered neglect during the Second World War and was allowed to quietly fall into ruin. It was finally demolished in 1973, although the foundations are still visible. As a small child my wife's ex-mother in law, with her family, was the last person to live in the cottage.

Ninesprings was acquired by the District Council (I think in the 1970s) and now, having been restored, has been incorporated into the 127-acre Yeovil Country Park.

 

gallery

 


From my collection

This is a stereoscopic photograph of the Ninesprings cottage, photographed in 1867 by Frederick Treble and is probably the earliest of any images of Ninesprings. It measures 7" x 3½" (175mm x 85mm) and is mounted on thick card stock.

 

This is the front and back of a carte de visite, or CDV, produced by Ebenezer Whitby, of the cottage at Ninesprings. The writing on the back says "EB from GSS in remembrance of a walk to Nine Springs. Oct 7th 1876". Much smaller than later cabinet cards, this CDV is 2½" x 4" (65mm x 100mm).

 

This photograph was taken by Yeovil Photographer Jarratt Beckett and published in his 1897 book  "Somerset viewed through a Camera".

 


From my collection. This image features in my book 'Yeovil - The Postcard Collection'.

Looking across to Yeovil from Ninesprings in the 1920s.

 


Courtesy of Betty Barber (née Bird)

A 1950's postcard of the approach to Ninesprings with Dodham Brook and its small weir at centre and the Yeovil to Taunton railway line at right. 

 


From my collection. This image features in my book 'Yeovil - The Postcard Collection'.

This postcard, dated 1936, shows the rustic bridge crossing the stream at the lower end of the Ninesprings valley.

 


Courtesy of Jack Sweet

Standing on another rustic bridge, photographed about 1910.

 


From my collection

An early postcard showing one of the first of the man-made lakes in the valley.

 


From my collection

This early postcard shows the approach to one of the cascades beside the path about half-way up the Ninesprings valley.

 


From my collection  -  This photograph features in my book 'Yeovil From Old Photographs'

Postmarked 1900, this postcard gives a closer view of the cascade and steps.

 


From my collection

The cascade itself.

 


From my collection

One of the man-made lakes in the upper valley featuring a fountain - who knew?

 


From my collection

Without doubt one of Harry Thomas Balls' first postcards - this one of Ninesprings Cottage was posted in 1903, just after he had set himself up in business in Yeovil.

 


From my collection

A picturesque hand-coloured postcard of 1905 shows the approach to the cottage.

 


From my collection. This image features in my book 'Yeovil - The Postcard Collection'.

This postcard of 1904 is unusual in that it shows the Batten family at lower left who owned Ninesprings and the cottage at the time.

 


From my collection

An enlargement of the previous postcard of 1904 showing the Batten family.

 


From my collection. This image features in my book 'Yeovil - The Postcard Collection'.

A hand-coloured postcard by William Beale Collins of the cottage at Ninesprings. This card was posted in 1904.

 


From my collection

A 'chocolate box' image of the cottage in a postcard of 1906.

 


From my collection. This image features in my book 'Yeovil - The Postcard Collection'.

Ninesprings and the cottage photographed during the 'Great Snow' of 1909.

 


From my collection

Another 'chocolate box' image of the cottage in a postcard of 1910.

 


From my collection

The cottage on a 1914 postcard, one of the Aplin & Barrett "Everything St Ivel is Perfect" publicity campaign.

 


From my collection  -  The original of this photograph features in my book 'Yeovil From Old Photographs'

A colourised postcard showing an unusual view of the cottage. The card was posted in 1924.

 

A postcard, probably from the 1920s, of the "Old Drive to Nine Springs".

 


From my collection. This image features in my book 'Yeovil - The Postcard Collection'.

A postcard of about 1939 shows a different view of the cottage in the period shortly before it fell into decline.

 


From my collection

.... and a similar view taken at a similar date.

 


From my collection. This image features in my book 'Yeovil - The Postcard Collection'.

An unusual view of the rear of the cottage in this postcard of 1931.

 


Courtesy of Viv Cafferkey

Ninesprings Cottage photographed in its later years.

 

A colourised postcard of the 1950s, featuring the stream running through the Ninesprings valley.

 


Courtesy of Dave Greene

The cottage photographed around 1960.

 


Courtesy of Dave Greene

The cottage seen from a little further up the valley. Photographed around 1960.

 


Courtesy of Jack Sweet and South Somerset District Council

This is a photograph of around 1990 of Aldon Lodge, Dorchester Road, with the model of the Ninesprings Cottage in its garden.

 


Courtesy of Raymond Blanche

An early 1970's view across the lakes towards New Walk Cottage.

 

A cascade, photographed from the stream-side walkway, in 2013.

 

A man-made lake, photographed in 2013.

 

A nineteenth century grotto housing one of the nine springs,  photographed in 2013.

 

The stream towards the head of the valley, photographed in 2013.

 

A nineteenth century cascade built around another of the nine springs.