Gourock Jubilee Fountain

This is the beautiful Jubilee Fountain which is situated along the Promenade in Gourock.

It was erected to celebrate the diamond jubilee, or 60th year of the reign of Queen Victoria in 1897.

Made at the Saracen Foundry, Glasgow it bears the words "Macfarlane's Patent Saracen Foundry".

Interesting decoration of lizards around the base.

It is a lovely ornament on the Promenade at Gourock.

Find out about some other local fountains -

Duncan McPherson Fountain, Gourock

Cardwell Bay Fountain, Gourock

Galt Fountain, Esplanade, Greenock

Esplanade Fountain, Greenock

Lyle Fountain, Greenock

Greenock Lyle Fountain - the 18 names

Around the top of Greenock's Lyle Fountain in Cathcart Square are names in gold of some of the men who were important to the town at the time the fountain was gifted to the people of Greenock by former Provost and sugar refiner Abram Lyle.  Also beneath the names are shields displaying heraldic devices and a scroll with a motto (most in Latin).  While these may be interesting in themselves, I am more interested in the names.  Who were these people and why were they important to Greenock ?

If you would like to find out more about these men and what earned them a place on the fountain then you can have a look at some more detailed information here.  The 18 names are mostly of men who served the people of Greenock in one capacity or another.

Members of Parliament - Wallace of Kelly, Baine, Dunlop, Grieve and Stewart.

Provosts - Macfie, Fairrie, Duff, Morton, Lyle and Campbell.

Councillors - Caird, Kerr, Leitch and Steele.

Others - Sir M S Stewart, Crawfurd of Cartsburn and Scott.

Finding out about these people and their families really encapsulates part of the story of Greenock up until 1880 when the fountain was opened.  You can read all about them here.

Only 18 could be chosen.  I wonder if anyone was really annoyed at being left out?

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.

Cardwell Bay Fountain

Cardwell Bay in Gourock is a lovely little area to spend time in.  At the west end of the Battery Park, it has some nice little shops, cafes and a pub.

I love this little fountain which sits at the junction of Cardwell Road and Cove Road.

It has a lovely red granite basin and a fabulous lion sculpture decorating it.

There's a nice walk along the shore to Gourock town centre too, if the weather is good.