Gilded Lyle Fountain

The Lyle Fountain in Cathcart Square, Greenock has been returned after having restoration work done.  Beautifully painted in black and gold, it looks fantastic!

However, although the fountain has been back for some months, there still must be some work continuing as there are some ugly barriers around the base of the fountain.  

On 1 July 1880 the Fountain was officially unveiled in a public ceremony in Cathcart Square.  The fountain and its accompanying light were gifted to the town by former Provost (1876-1879) Abram Lyle.  Abram Lyle junior did the unveiling and a silver cup filled with water from the fountain was presented to his wife (Isabella Foster).  

Photo - Greenock Burns Club

Near the end of the ceremony, the Greenock Telegraph reports that - 

    "a young man walked coolly up to the fountain and took a drink in such a self-professed fashion that no one thought of interfering until he managed his object, and he was able to say that, after Mrs Lyle jun, he was the first party to drink from the fountain.  The young fellow was quickly followed by a woman, evidently more in need of an outward than of an inward application of the water."

The inscription on the base fountain read "With Thee there is the Fountain of Life; in Thy Light shall we see Light". 

Francis A Skidmore was the architect who designed the fountain.  Around the top of the fountain are the names of eighteen families who held prominence in Greenock at the time.  

Hopefully the barriers will soon be removed and the Lyle Fountain can be seen in its total beauty.