Goodison Fountain
There’s one place on the Hampstead Heath where natural red coloured mud is guaranteed. This was at a point 410 yards south east of the centre of the grand south facing façade of Kenwood House and a few yards northwest of The Stock Pond, one of the series of Highgate Ponds. Or you can just go to the bottom of the upper Cohen's Field, just by Millfield Lane.
The reason that this spot is always sodden is that it surrounds a natural spring, which issues from a cylindrical stone well-head covered with stone carvings. These include depictions of a squirrel, a hedgehog, a weasel, a fish, and the head of a man with a luxuriant moustache. The water issues from a pipe emerging from the man’s mouth and then drops into a carving of a scallop shell before some of it falls into a drainage grid and the rest all over the place. That’s because this is not one of Hampstead Heath’s typical recirculating chlorinated fountains, the water is free running and rich in iron.
History
The present structure was built in 1929 as a monument to Henry Goddison who was one of the main campaigners involved in saving the Heath and Kenwood estate for the public. There is no evidence that the spring was exploited before this but it was likely. It certainly is now and it is common to see walkers there getting their fill and others collecting water in bottles.
Goddisons Fountain is the last surviving spring issuing chalybeate (iron rich) water in the Hampstead/Highgate area. Prized for its supposed curative properties, especially during the 18th century, there were several springs issuing this kind of mineral water in Hampstead. A fine example of a now disused spring well-head can be seen at the eastern end of Well Walk in Hampstead (Earth cache GCAMEJC). It was for public use and located across the road from the Hampstead spa that thrived during the 18th century.
If, unlike many who stroll on the Heath, you do not wish to try the chalybeate water issuing copiously from Goddisons fountain, the next nearest source of this once highly prized water is about 47 miles south east in The Pantiles at Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent.
The water flowing from Goddisons Fountain is one of many sources of the water in the Highgate Ponds, which include (descending the slope from Kenwood) the Wood Pond; the Thousand Pound Pond with the trompe l’oeil bridge designed by Robert Adam; the Stock Pond which is directly below Goddisons Fountain; the Ladies’ Bathing Pond; the Bird Sanctuary Pond, where I spotted a heron; the Model Boating Pond, where I saw no boats; the Men’s Bathing Pond; and Highgate Number 1 Pond. The water from the topmost pond flows through the lower ones sequentially. Most of these ponds were dug before the 18th century as reservoirs for London’s water. They were kept full by damming the Hampstead Brook, a tributary of the now hidden River Fleet, in 1777. In addition, numerous streams in the grounds of Kenwood and on Hampstead Heath were diverted to keep them topped up. Now, the ponds form a valuable publicly accessible leisure amenity. Hardy souls gain great enjoyment in swimming in the gender segregated open-air ponds, whose waters are not subjected to any purification or disinfection procedures. During the present covid19 ‘lockdown’, it is only wildfowl that can enjoy their water.
Curious fact #1
The fountain is the last surviving chalybeate spring in this part of the world.
Curious fact #2
The inscription around the Goodison Fountain read: "This fountain, erected in 1929 to the memory of Henry Edmund Goodison of Highgate, honorary treasurer of the Ken Wood Preservation council, was presented by his wife and sons".
Curious fact #3
The Goodison Fountain should not be confused with the Grecian Fountain which is located in Hampstead Heath Extension.
About the Cache
You’ll be looking for a magnetic geocache container that contains only the log strip. Please, bring your own pen (BYOP).
About Hampstead_Twins
We are Hampstead locals and have recently discovered geocaching activity. As we are delighted with the place where we live and with the stories we find in every corner of this locality, we decided to share some curious facts about our neighbourhood and encourage geocaching activity in the region. We hope you enjoy.
If you found any errors, had any ideas for improvement while doing the route or even just want to talk with us and encourage more caches like this one, feel free to send us a message. We will respond to everyone as soon as possible. Let’s get in touch.
What’s Next?
Did you like what you saw here? If you haven't already, how about trying to find another cache in the area of Hampstead, which also has to do with the history of the region’s waters? Look for ‘Chalybeate Well’ Earth Cache and have fun!