Description

George Smith and Co, Glasgow for Sun Foundry; named and dated on base, 1869. Ornately moulded, cast-iron pillar drinking fountain/pump. Octagonal roll moulded base and octagonal shaft with decorative thistle and scroll detail to alternate faces and ogee-dome cap. Single column rising from cap: intricate floral motif to shaft, surmounted by foliated capital and open-work orb finial.

Statement of Interest

The former drinking fountain/pump at Elie is a good and early example of cast-iron work by Glasgow's renowned Sun Foundry. Named and dated on the base, it is understood to be the only surviving example of this particular pattern type in the country.

The fountain has occupied its prominent location in the village square since 1869. It is marked as a pump on the Ordnance Survey Map of 1893-4. While no longer in use and without its tap and pump handle, the structure was restored by the local community council in 2001.

The Sun Foundry was founded by George Smith in 1858. As a direct rival to Walter MacFarlane's more prolific Saracen Works in Glasgow, Smith and Co produced some of the finest architectural ironwork in Scotland during the height of their popularity including excellent examples at Fountain Gardens, Paisley and at Bridgetown Cross, Glasgow (see separate listings).

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77782311

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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