A LASTING reminder of 160 years of Malvern Water being bottled in the town has been preserved for thousands of visitors to see thanks to the Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells and the Three Counties Showground.

When the Malvern Water factory at Colwall was closed down by Coca-Cola in October 2010, many local people were concerned about the future of the factory site and its heritage artefacts.

Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells worked together with Coca- Cola to ensure that most items were safely deposited at Malvern Museum, ahead of their eventual transfer to Worcester’s new library, archive and research centre the Hive.

However one exception was the large two-and-a-half tonne ‘Stone Bottle Fountain’, which depicts a Malvern Water bottle and stood proudly outside the factory.

Cora Weaver, of the Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells, explained: “When it was revealed that the Colwall site would be sold for possible development, we had the fountain removed to a safe location outside Malvern, while a suitable alternative site was found for it.

“Then, working with Malvern’s Three Counties Showground management and Alchemy Gardens, ensured a permanent site in a rustic garden designed by Paul Taylor.”

The purpose-made garden is just inside the main south gate at the showground, and the bubbling, floodlit fountain and a commemorative plaque have now been officially unveiled. The Bishop of Worcester, the Right Rev John Inge, did the honours.

“The fountain will be seen by hundreds of thousands of visitors, and is a fitting tribute to 160 years of Schweppes Malvern Water,”

Mrs Weaver added.

Schweppes began bottling Malvern spring water in 1850, and in 1892 built a water-bottling factory at Colwall. In 1987 the brand and the factory was taken over by Coca-Cola Enterprises.