Diana fountain given facelift as part of £7.2 million project
diana fountain
A BUSHY Park landmark has undergone a major restoration, bringing it back to its former glory.
The Diana Fountain, sits in Chestnut Avenue, and is fed by the Longford River. The work included cleaning the statue of Diana, coating it in four layers of paint and then gilded. The fountain's bronzes and its stonework have also been cleaned and repaired and a new water system installed.
The statue originally stood in the garden of Somerset House and was designed in the 1630s for King Charles I, before being moved to Bushy Park in the 18th century to form the centrepiece of Christopher Wren's grand approach to Hampton Court.
The statue, by Le Seur, is known as Diana, but some think she represents the Greek water nymph Arethusa.
Funding for the project was largely met by the Heritage Lottery Fund and The Royal Parks Foundation. In total £7.2 million has been spent restoring key features of the park.
Director of major projects Greg McErlean said: "We are delighted to mark the completion of the Bushy Park restoration project with the opening of the Diana Fountain. The project has enabled huge improvements to this wonderful park which we hope visitors will enjoy for many years to come."
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