Historic Hawick fountain to be restored

The fountain bequeathed to Hawick in 1896 by banker Gilbert Davidson is to be restored. Picture: Stuart Cobley.

The Gilbert Davidson Fountain in Hawick’s Wilton Lodge Park is to be restored back to all its 19th century glory as part of a £40,000 makeover.

The fountain was removed in January so work could be carried out on the restoration.

A new listed building consent application has now been submitted to Scottish Borders Council seeking approval to repaint the fountain in what are thought to be the colours it was originally painted when it opened in 1896 - blue and gold.

The report says: “During the process to remove the existing paint on the fountain to reveal the cast iron there was evidence that the original colours were gold and blue.”

The work is one of the last stages in the multi-million pound Lottery-backed restortation of the park.