The fabulous golden Ross Fountain will be taken to bits this summer and ten put back together again by next spring.
The A-listed cast iron fountain was made in France and donated to the city by gunsmith Daniel Ross, and the Ross Development Trust will oversee its restoration as it has not worked for years.
Edinburgh’s Lord Provost, Frank Ross, said: “Edinburgh boasts statues and monuments at almost every turn. Yet, out of the 200 monuments in our care, the Ross Fountain stands out as one of the most timeless.
“Since being installed in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle in 1872, it has become one of the most recognisable features of Princes Street Gardens. We are very grateful to the support of the Ross Development Trust. Thanks to this project, Edinburgh can look forward to seeing the fountain back in Spring.”
This is part of a series of projects in Princes Street Gardens which will also include the Ross Bandstand and the Gardner’s Cottage, but the fountain is particularly important as it is one of only two A listed fountains in the UK. It was manufactured in the French foundry owned by Antoine Durenne in Sommevoire Haute Marne.
David Ellis, Project Director for the Ross Development Trust, said: “As we prepare for public consultation on the Ross Pavilion designs, we are delighted to see restoration work begin on the fountain. We are keen to see the peace and tranquillity of the gardens, enjoyed by so many, enhanced by these improvements.”
The conservation will be carried out by Industrial Heritage Consulting Limited, which worked with Lost Art Ltd in 2013 to restore the Grand Central Fountain in Paisley. Their engineers will temporarily remove the Fountain this summer to renovate the internal structure and return it to full working condition.
Further information of the Ross Development Trust and updates on the progress of the restoration will be available at: www.rdtrust.org.
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