Mcintyre Masonry Ltd worked as a specialist contractor carrying out conservation works to the Murray Fountain in Crieff.
When this tender arrived, the company was excited at the possibility of being a part of this project and working with the already appointed design team.
The work consisted of sympathetic cleaning of the granite fountain and repointing. The cleaning process was carried out with the most care, when cleaning stone over 130 years old, experience and knowledge of the products and cleaning method is vital. Granite repairs and lime pointing was carried out after successfully cleaning.
Monument history
Dated 1893, installed 1894, sculptor William Mossman; renovated 1993. 3-stage classical memorial fountain. Grey and red granite with marble basins. Reducing stepped base giving way to plinth with centre basins and dog drinking bowl to E angle surmounted by projecting moulded ledge. Base of tall 2nd stage with lead lionhead waterspout in small niche to centre of each face, that to N with flanking inscription ‘ERECTED BY THE INHABITANTS OF THE BURGH OF CRIEFF’ ‘A RECOGNITION OF MANY BENEFITS RECEIVED FROM THE MURRAYS OF OCHTERTYRE’, surmounting keystoned arches and floreate-capitalled marble pilasters with fountain bowl to centre giving way to elaborate cornice and heavy 3rd stage with fish tails reaching to form support for ball finial and decorative cast-iron weathervane.
James Square, set out as a marketplace by George Drummond of Milnab in 1685, was largely feued by James Drummond the third Duke of Perth, from whom its name derives. Crieff Water Works was opened on 28th May, 1872, by Lady Keith Murray but with a temporary fountain. The permanent fountain was installed October 1894 and commemorates the town’s fresh water supply and other benefits provided by the Murrays of Ochtertyre. Restoration work was carried out in 1993 by Perth & Kinross District Council. The base (west face) is signed ‘WILLIAM MOSSMAN SCULPTOR GLASGOW’. The nearby Jubilee Lamps are listed separately.
