Watch: Ross Fountain ready to flow once more as restoration completed

Work to renovate the historic Ross Fountain was completed this afternoon as the last statue was crane-lifted into place.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd May 2018, 20:09 BST
Updated 22nd May 2018, 21:16 BST

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A mainstay in West Princes Street Gardens for more than 140 years, the A-listed Edinburgh landmark has been undergoing a £1.9m restoration since last July.

During the work a small crowd gathered to watch the lofty two-tonne statue being carefully dropped into its final position.

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It signalled the end of a meticulous repair job spearheaded by the Ross Development Trust and conducted by Wigan-based specialists Lost Art Ltd.

The statue at the top of The Ross Fountain in West Princes Street Gardens was put back into place today marking the completion of the £1.9M renovation. Picture: A Linford/TSPLThe statue at the top of The Ross Fountain in West Princes Street Gardens was put back into place today marking the completion of the £1.9M renovation. Picture: A Linford/TSPL
The statue at the top of The Ross Fountain in West Princes Street Gardens was put back into place today marking the completion of the £1.9M renovation. Picture: A Linford/TSPL
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Testing, ancillary works and landscaping still remain to be finished, with a final unveiling scheduled to take place in the next 5 or 6 weeks.

Among those in attendance was Lord Provost Frank Ross who seemed impressed with the restoration as the finishing touches were made.

He said: “It’s fantastic. Once the scaffolding’s down and people get to see it, I really believe that the citizens of Edinburgh will get to love it”.

L-R: Fiona MacDonald, Edinburgh World Heritage; David Ellis, Ross Development Trust; Lord Provost Frank Ross. Picture: TSPLL-R: Fiona MacDonald, Edinburgh World Heritage; David Ellis, Ross Development Trust; Lord Provost Frank Ross. Picture: TSPL
L-R: Fiona MacDonald, Edinburgh World Heritage; David Ellis, Ross Development Trust; Lord Provost Frank Ross. Picture: TSPL

Fiona MacDonald, Conservation Architect at Edinburgh World Heritage, who have helped to partly fund the project, said: “We’re delighted the project has now finally been delivered. It’s wonderful that it’s now here in all its glory”.

David Ellis, Managing Director the Ross Development Trust added: “It’s been almost a year since we were standing here taking her down and it’s been a huge amount of work but it honestly feels like it’s flown past. Seeing her go up though is obviously a fantastic moment, this is really the final piece of the puzzle.

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“They (Lost Art Ltd) have put in an incredibly strong foundation and a whole new modern pumping system, which will make sure there is no potential that the fountain will have to be switched off in the future - which is exactly what everyone wants.

Picture: TSPLPicture: TSPL
Picture: TSPL

“What is most important is making sure it’s going to run properly for decades to come.”

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Related topics:WorkFrank RossEdinburgh