Blast It

For the past couple of months, the big water feature in the Old Market Square has been surrounded by eight foot tall wooden panels, whilst some remedial work on it has gone ahead. I heard that it has been leaking water for some time, but they've only just got around to repairing it.

Walking across today, I noticed that the panelling has been taken away, although it is still fenced off. But now you can see what the workmen are up to. I saw this guy cleaning part of it with a pressure washer.

I believe it is going to be reopened early next month. So people will once again be able to have a paddle, or watch the water flowing over it. Although I do miss the old fountains that used to be in there. Especially when someone squirted a bit of washing up liquid in, and there used to be soapy bubbles everywhere!

Foaming Hell

No, this isn't snow, but foam bubbling around the water feature in the Old Market Square.

Someone must have sneaked in some shower gel or washing up liquid to get the effect. It used to happen quite a lot in the old days when there were two fountains near the Council House.

I used a fast shutter speed to freeze the action of the water droplets, so it looks a bit like snow.

Who?

Before anyone thinks otherwise, this is not a photoshopped image, or has been digitally manipulated. I'm really not that clever.

I took this one evening a couple of weeks ago. The bricks that make up the water feature in the Old Market Square are a greyish black colour, but the fading sun has turned them a golden colour.  The person with the hat and stick, just happened to be standing in the right place so that I managed to get a good silhouette of them. You can just make out the heads of some lads who are enjoying playing in the water.

Water Wheel

Here's a shot of the big wheel reflected in the Square's water feature. The workmen have almost finished putting it together ready for the grand opening tomorrow.

Under My Umbrella, Ella Ella

The recent number one song from Rihanna, instantly sprang to mind when I saw this couple in the rain looking at the new water feature in the Market Square. There was nearly as much water falling from the sky yesterday as flowing from the fountain.

Please can we have some decent weather.

Lunchtime

This sculpture is known locally as the Onion, and is on Albert Street, which runs down to Wheeler Gate. It is a water feature, but it was switched off a few years ago for health reasons. So now it is where people sit to eat their sandwiches, read or just watch the world go by.

Jets of Water

The Old Market Square again. This time a close up of the fountain's water spouting out into the air. It's quite relaxing watching water run by. Perhaps everyone should have a water feature at home, to help them wind down after a busy day at work.

Water Disaster

As I reported yesterday, a fault has caused the new water feature to be turned off for repairs. This shot shows where the problem lies and the amount of effort the engineers have had to take to get it mended. I've no idea how long it's going to take to get it going again.

Mirror Image

Another view of the new water feature in the square. This time it's of the top, so you can see the reflections of the sky and surrounding buildings. I saw on the news last night, that they've had to switch it off, as a problem with the pump has developed.

Water Falls

As promised, here's a shot of the other water feature newly installed and being tested. it's a strange shape and design, as on one side it's just like a brick wall that looks like it's sprung a leak in a few places, the other side is sloped. This is one end, with a cascade. More pictures to come.

Square Bashing

The new, Old Market Square is going through it's final preparations before the big opening on Thursday. So here's a bit of an exclusive picture, of the new water feature that was being tested. The barriers are still around it, but it appears to be in two parts. Here's the first & tomorrow I'll show you the second.