Memorial Fountain, Zetland park, Grangemouth, Falkirk

Description

The fountain was designed and erected in 1882 and is located in Zetland Park. The cast iron fountain was made by the Coalbrookdale Foundry in Shropshire. Alterations were made about 1923 when the fountain was relocated within the public park. There were further alterations after the 1930s. The fountain takes the form of a large circular cast iron basin set on a four-course, ashlar masonry sandstone base. The basin has two outer cast iron side bowls for drinking water on fretted arched panels and a central pedestal surrounded by four kneeling cast iron winged angels. This supports a shallow, open bowl with beaded rim and eight water spouts.

Statement of Interest

The fountain in Zetland Park dating from 1882 is a good surviving example of a cast iron drinking fountain with some unusual surviving features, including the fretted panels on the side basins and the angels supporting the second basin. It is a relatively early example of its type following the advent of the Temperance Movement in the UK in 1859 and was made by the Coalbrookdale Foundry in Shropshire. The fountain was gifted to the town by the Lord Provost Hugh Macpherson who was deeply concerned with the welfare of the townspeople and was a committed supporter of local industry.

Age and Rarity

In 1880 the Earl of Zetland offered an area of ground for a public park in Grangemouth. This was accepted by the Town Council and the Park was opened on 3 June 1882. The fountain was gifted by the Lord Provost of Grangemouth, Hugh Macpherson. The fountain was in place when the park was opened and the water was turned on by the Provost's wife, Mrs Elizabeth Macpherson, at the opening ceremony. The opening of the park coincided with that of the new Carron Dock and the ceremonies were conducted on one day. A commemorative medal which shows the appearance of the fountain at that date (with a further cast iron superstructure) was struck on the occasion of the opening of the park. The reverse side the medal commemorates the presentation of the public park by the Earl of Zetland and the opening of the new docks.

The fountain was originally located at the northernmost end of the park. The fountain was relocated 1923 when the War Memorial was constructed in this northern position and the fountain moved to its current position further south. An image of the 1930s indicates that the fountain had been raised from its original 3-course base to four courses and also with the insertion of a concrete surround and concrete steps on either side replacing the single sandstone step, presumably when it was moved, but its superstructure was visibly in place at this date. Part of the superstructure of the fountain was removed at some point since then (see below) but the exact date is unknown. However the fountain still retains many elements dating from its date of construction.

There were many drinking fountains erected during the second half of the 19th century in towns over the United Kingdom to provide a ready supply of clean drinking water before running water in households was universally available. The London fountain movement was launched on 12th April 1859 and was an association formed by Samuel Gurney. Drinking fresh water was encouraged as a better option than beer or other alcoholic beverages and so fountains were usually erected close to pubs. At the same time the Temperance Movement initiated philanthropic donations for memorial fountains, which would ensure that many received elaborate decorative treatment.

With the advent of readily available fresh water drinking fountains lost their original purpose and remained simply as decorative features in the streetscape. Many have fallen into disrepair or been extensively altered. They are therefore a relatively rare type of structure with only 18 iron drinking fountains presently listed in Scotland. Of those listed iron fountains only four are earlier than that at Grangemouth.

In this context, the Zetland Park fountain is considered to be a relatively early example of the type in Scotland. While it has been moved to a new location in the 1920s and has since lost some of its early fabric, the design is known to be uncommon for its type and retains good decorative features such as its drinking bowls and the cast angels (see below).

Architectural or Historic Interest

Technological excellence or innovation, material or design quality

The design of this fountain has been identified as pattern no.43 from the The Coalbrookdale Foundry in Shropshire, England and is shown in their 1875 and 1888 catalogues. There is no evidence of a maker's mark however it is possible this this was lost when the fountain was moved and reconstructed. The renowned Coalbrookdale Foundry was established in 1709 and built the first cast-iron bridge in the world, Iron Bridge, in 1779. In the 19^th century the foundry produced a range of decorative goods including fire surrounds, gates, benches and fountains and these were advertised in illustrated catalogues.

The side basins with fretted panels and the angels supporting the basin are relatively unusual design motifs and their survival is of interest and is not found elsewhere in Scotland. Newspapers document that the layout of the park was funded by public subscription and two local iron companies, the Falkirk Iron Company and the Carron Company supplied (presumably free of charge) chairs, the flagstaff which was surmounted by a model ship, and railings.

The fountain was commissioned at the expense of the Lord Provost Hugh Macpherson. Macpherson (1833-1899) was wholly committed to supporting the community and was involved with the Falkirk United Christian Fellowship, the Town Mission, the YMCA, the Coast Mission and the Foundry Boys Meeting as well as the local Free Church. He served as a Police Commissioner and on the School Board. He was also an advocate of temperance and in his position as Lord Provost was reluctant to grant new licenses for public houses. Macpherson was a self-made man who established the Forth Saw Mills in 1867 and is described as a timber merchant in census records. He imported foreign timber and there is evidence that he had business interests on the Continent. At the time of his death he relinquished his interest in a Feldspar mine in Christiansund in Norway.

Grangemouth Town Council Minutes do not give details of the designer of the fountain but from these minutes it is clear that the construction of the park was dealt with by a Parks Sub-Committee. No records of this survive. However it is recorded (Buildings of Scotland) that the architectural practice A & W Black of Falkirk was responsible for the design and layout of Zetland Park. The uncatalogued papers of Hugh Macpherson in Falkirk Archives show that William Black undertook work for Macpherson privately including the construction of a workshop in 1882 and the procurement of lairs in Falkirk Cemetery on his behalf in 1889.

The fountain, as noted above, has been altered. The upper basin was formerly surmounted by a fluted column supporting another basin on which a sculpted figure holding an urn on her head from which water poured, filling the top bowl which in turn filled the middle bowl and flowed from eight spouts into the base bowl. It has been suggested that by comparison with other drinking fountains (for example those illustrated in the catalogues of Walter Macfarlane & Co) that there may have been chains with cups attached on the side bowls although these are not evident in its catalogue design.

Some alterations have been made to the fountain but the design is highly unusual. Nothing similar is recorded in the Scottish Ironwork database although a fountain of the same design exists in Swindon Town Gardens.

Setting

The fountain is located in open ground at the intersection of a number of paths in Zetland Park. Along with the war memorial, the fountain is a significant visual focal point in the park which in this area is largely open lawns.

Regional variations

There are no known regional variations.

Close Historical Associations

There are no known associations with a person or event of national importance at present (2016).

The fountain was gifted to the town by the Lord Provost Hugh Macpherson who was deeply concerned with the welfare of the townspeople and was a committed supporter of local industry.

External Links

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