Plan to bring Port Sunlight’s Boating Pond and Fountain back to life unveiled
19 Jun 2025
For five years, the Boating Pond and Sea Piece Fountain in Port Sunlight have run dry due to significant structural issues. Now, a major restoration plan has been unveiled to get water flowing again through these two Grade II listed monuments, which have been delighting visitors and residents for nearly a century.
Port Sunlight Village Trust (PSVT) is the charity responsible for looking after the 19th century model village famously created by William Lever for soap factory workers. Following in-depth technical surveys and research, PSVT has worked with a highly experienced team of specialists to submit a planning and listed building consent application to carry out the work required. If approved, work is set to be completed by autumn 2026.
Andrew Bowden, Chair of Port Sunlight Village Trust, said: “The Boating Pond and Sea Piece Fountain hold a special place in the hearts of both local residents and visitors. This restoration is not just about physically repairing a structure, it’s about preserving a vital part of Port Sunlight’s unique heritage and ensuring that this iconic feature continues to bring joy for many years to come.”
Originally constructed in the early 1930s as part of the landscape design of the Diamond opposite Lady Lever Art Gallery, the Boating Pond was a key element of the vision William Lever had for this part of the village. The pond, with its central Sea Piece Fountain – designed by renowned sculptor Sir Charles Wheeler and installed in 1950 – has long been a focal point for both the village and its visitors.
Over the years, however, the structure has suffered extensive deterioration.
Investigations commissioned by PSVT since 2020 have identified serious structural issues with the pond’s concrete basin and stone walls, resulting in significant water leakage. Additional safety concerns and potential environmental contamination led to the pond being emptied in 2021. Research has also discovered that the appearance of the Sea Piece Fountain has changed over the decades from a light green colour to brown.
Following extensive consultation with conservation specialists, Historic England and Wirral Council’s conservation team, PSVT has developed an ambitious and sustainable restoration plan. The proposals are to:
- Replace the compromised concrete basin with a modern, structurally sound equivalent designed to prevent future leakage – several options to retain and repair the existing concrete basin were evaluated, however these were found to be unsuitable.
- Replace an area of ‘crazy paving’ around the Boating Pond with resin bound gravel to both improve accessibility and replicate the original surface
- Dismantle, repair, and rebuild the stone perimeter walls with local stonemasons to ensure long-term stability and authenticity.
- Restore the Sea Piece Fountain to its historically accurate appearance, removing the modern brown patina and reinstating its original light green finish.
- Upgrade the pumping and filtration systems in and around the Boating Pond to ensure safe operation and water quality.
PSVT’s full application for planning and listed building consent, with detailed drawings and supporting information, will be viewable at Wirral Council’s online planning portal.
Jennifer Chambers from Chambers Conservation, who have worked with PSVT to develop the plans, said: “Port Sunlight Village Trust has wisely taken a very considered approach as to the repair and restoration of the Boating Pond. They have taken the time to get as much information as possible on both the history and issues before making any decisions as to its future. As a result, this scheme does not simply add further patch repairs, knowing that they would inevitably fail; instead, the work proposed should hopefully last fifty years or more without major intervention.”
The restoration project will cost in excess of £300,000, and PSVT is seeking support from several sources to strengthen its funding for the project. Find out how you can support PSVT’s work here.
Andrew Bowden continued: “A century since this special village was built, the task of conserving Port Sunlight is becoming increasingly complex and costly, and the Boating Pond is a perfect example of this. With hundreds of Grade II listed properties, 130 acres of landscaped green spaces and several nationally-important monuments to care for, the public’s support for our work has never been more vital.”
Residents and visitors are also being asked to share their memories, mementos and photographs relating to the Boating Pond and Sea Piece Fountain. This is to strengthen PSVT’s historical knowledge as well as to potentially be part of future interpretation panels, online content and exhibitions. Anyone with something to share is invited to get in touch by email to [email protected], call 0151 644 4800 or visit www.portsunlightvillage.com/share-your-story
For any enquiries about the plans, email [email protected]
