Fife Fountain in Fine Form
A classic palette of colours from the Dulux Trade Heritage range has been used to restore and accentuate a prominent fountain located in the centre of Falkland Village in Fife. The Bruce Fountain, which dates back to the Victorian era, has undergone extensive redecoration, and paints from the Heritage range have been used to enhance its traditional design.
Donated to the Scottish village by Onesipherous Tindall-Bruce in 1856, the fountain is an important historical landmark, taking centre stage in the busy market place. However, over the years the structure has suffered natural wear and tear and the colour of its four decorative lions that stand at each of its corners had significantly faded.
After receiving grant funding, Fife Council appointed Tod and Taylor Architects and decorating company, Tecdec Ltd, to undertake much-needed conservation work on the fountain and sympathetically restore it to its former glory.
Roger Taylor, Partner at Tod and Taylor Architects, said: “As the fountain dates back to the Victorian era, it was important to ensure a high standard of authenticity was achieved in its redecoration. Therefore, the colours that we specified included a range of shades from the Dulux Heritage collection, not only because they are an authentic reflection of the colours of that period, but because they can also be applied in a selection of professional quality and durable coatings.”
Each of the large cast iron lions were painted in a striking crimson shade to closely replicate their original colour. In addition, a bespoke scheme was created for the individual decorative coat of arms that each lion holds. Shades from the current Heritage collection, such as Yellow Ochre were applied in a Dulux Trade Eggshell finish to bring out the intricate detail on the shields.
Commenting on the finished result, Mark Shaw, Conservation Supervisor at Fife Council Building Services, said: “We are pleased with the finished result. The fountain looks remarkable and the heritage colours really accentuate the striking period features, perfectly replicating how it would have looked over 150 years ago.”
The Heritage range is a collection of 100 accurate period colours from defining eras in British history, available in modern day finishes. The range allows specifiers to use characteristically subtle and muted shades to form complementary designs or to create historically accurate schemes.