Main restoration works on the historic grade-B listed fountain on Dumfries Excessive Road are beneath manner.
The estimated price is greater than £460,000 over two phases with funding coming from plenty of sources.
Nearly 140 years for the reason that landmark – formally referred to as The Solar Foundry Fountain – was first unveiled to the general public in December, 1882, security hoardings are up round it.
Will probably be the spring earlier than will probably be absolutely operational once more and introduced again to its former glory to boost the looks of the city centre which is beneath revival although initiatives just like the Midsteeple Quarter.
Councillor Katie Hagmann, chairwoman of the economic system and assets committee, mentioned: “The restoration of this historic landmark may be very specialist work which should be undertaken by consultants according to finest engineering apply.
“It’s not a simple job nevertheless it does present us with a chance to protect this well-known sight, not just for the present group, as requested, however for future generations.”
The restoration of the fountain is likely one of the first major initiatives of the Dynamically Totally different Dumfries community-led imaginative and prescient and motion plan for the city centre.
Interpretation boards on the hoarding will inform the historical past of the fountain which was erected to commemorate the introduction of recent water to Dumfries and Maxwelltown following the devastating cholera epidemics of 1832 and 1848.
The boards can even have letterbox slots at various heights to allow the general public to peek via and see work beneath manner. They can even function paintings produced by faculties and the broader group throughout the group engagement course of.
All the work is very specialised and will likely be beneath the scrutiny of Historic Surroundings Scotland.
The restoration venture is being led by award-winning engineering consultancy Industrial Heritage Consulting Restricted with the works being undertaken by Wigan-based Misplaced Artwork. The businesses are amongst a handful of specialists within the UK with a profitable observe file in restoration of fountains of this kind.
As soon as dismantled, the mixed cascade and spray fountain, with greater than 100 forged iron elements, will head south to be restored after which introduced again to be reassembled on website.
At the moment the fixings that maintain the fountain collectively are corroded and have to be changed to make sure the fountain’s future. It has additionally misplaced plenty of its authentic options beneath layers and layers of paint. Additionally it has not been operational as it could not meet trendy water security requirements.
A brand new water therapy and pumping system is required. This can contain a brand new underground chamber being created to deal with the water filtration system, pump and lighting controls in a large-scale operation.
Digging down via potential medieval layers of historical Dumfries can even require the knowledgeable steerage of archaeologists to make sure the recording and removing of any important finds.
The primary part has price £63,000 with funding from the Scottish Authorities’s City Centre Capital Fund of £53,000, and £10,000 from the Holywood Belief.
For the second part for the work itself, £398,355 has been allotted from the council’s Financial Growth Capital Fund.