Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Hanbury Hall and the national trust

The national trust are going all green - as a conservational body they approve of the idea of reducing their impact on the environment, so they are starting a number of 'green' initiatives. One of which is a green energy tarrif in association with npower. Another is using renewables where possible.

I spotted this anomoly at Hanbury Hall - I couldn't find out much about it, but it does look rather incongruous seeing the ultra modern thin film solar panels, mounted on a 300 year old wall in front of a 500 year old house:

I /think/ its for powering a fountain - if anyone figures it out for sure, let me know !


Phil said...

Hi chaps,
Just catching up with this.

How is it 'green' to use electricity - renewable or otherwise - to power something as unnecessary as a fountain? It's commendable to use a solar panel to power it (even though it was made in a factory causing polution, delivered in a lorry causing pollution and etc. etc.) but wouldn't it be more 'green' to find other ways of making the place look pretty, such as planting some CO2-gobbling trees, and using the solar panel to power something which is actually needed?

This is just the sort of confused thinking which is going to get us nowhere. And it annoys me.


Pitt & Hodson said...


I work at Hanbury Hall and I can tell you that the solar panel seen here does not power the fountain. just off camera is what is known as 'snobs tunnel' an underground passageway which used to be a connection for the serving staff between the walled garden / orchards and the kitchens. It is a very dark space.

This panel actually powers the light inside the tunnel and a few of the security lights.

Hanbury also boasts solar powered water heating and other things like wind turbines etc are planned.