Fountain Gardens, Paisley

Fountain Gardens is in Paisley, Scotland. It has recreational parkland and garden areas which are open to the public. The park is Paisley's oldest public gardens. Within the park is Grand Central Fountain, one of only three Category A listed fountains in Scotland.[1][2]

Fountain Gardens
Grand Central Fountain
LocationPaisley
Nearest cityGlasgow
Coordinates55°51′01″N 4°25′42″W
Operated byRenfrewshire Council
Open26 May 1868
StatusOpen

History

Fountain Gardens was originally laid out on grounds called Hope Temple Gardens, which were created by prominent business man John Love in 1797. The Hope Temple Museum and a bowling green were sited within the original park. Love became bankrupt after a disastrous American business venture and the park grounds were sold to the famous industrialist Thomas Coats in 1866.[3] He enlisted the help of James Craig Niven, a landscape architect, to redesign the park and gardens. A new layout was approved and constructed. It featured a geometric layout, broader walkways, drinking fountains, rock garden and alpine beds. Coats then gifted the park to the people of Paisley. The park was renamed and opened officially on 26 May 1868.[4] Nearby Love Street was named in homage to the original park owner. Renfrewshire Council are now responsible for the upkeep of the park.

Grand Central Fountain

In the centre of the park an ornate fountain was constructed. The A listed fountain consists of dolphins, herons, cherubs and walruses. George Smith and Company of the Sun Foundry in Glasgow constructed the fountain. Stained-glass artist and designer Daniel Cottier was enlisted to paint and colour the monument.[5]

A £650,000 restoration project took place between 2013-14 to restore the fountain, which had deteriorated. Renfrewshire Council, Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund provided the necessary funding required to complete the work. There was a gala day in September 2014 to commemorate the restoration of the fountain. Provost Anne Hall, nearby residents and local youth theatre group Pace were part of the celebrations.[6][7]

A statue of Robert Burns was erected in the gardens in 1896. It is sited adjacent to the fountain. It was constructed by Frederick William Pomeroy.[8][9]

  • Grand Central Fountain pictured in 1868
  • Contemporary lithograph of Fountain Gardens

References
  1. "Fountain Gardens - Renfrewshire Council". Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  2. "Paisley Grand Central Fountain to Flow Again - 3rd Dimension - The PMSA Magazine & Newsletter". Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  3. "BBC - Domesday Reloaded: Fountain Gardens Paisley". domesday. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  4. "Utopian ruins: Fountain Gardens, Paisley". rag-picking history. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  5. "Paisley Grand Central Fountain to Flow Again - 3rd Dimension - The PMSA Magazine & Newsletter". Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  6. "Warm welcome for return of Grand Fountain". Paisley Scotland. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  7. "Fountain Gardens Open Day Video". Paisley Scotland. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  8. "Paisley's Burns Statue". Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  9. "Fountain Gardens - Renfrewshire Council". Retrieved 8 October 2014.
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