Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Probably early to earlier 19th century. Fine classical ashlar drinking fountain sited immediately to SW of later separately listed Fishing Hut on raised ground overlooking River Tay in parkland of Murthly Castle. Squared rubble with stugged and polished ashlar dressings. Rectangular-plan stepped area and low coped wall incorporating taller drinking fountain comprising pilastered stand with raised semicircular pediment at centre over deeply moulded panel with stone bowl on plinth below relief carved lion's head water spout and incised inscription (see Notes).

Statement of Special Interest

This unusually fine drinking fountain is situated close to the eastern entrance to Murthly Castle. Although no longer used and somewhat overgrown, the fountain is in good condition and may have included some sort of formalised sitting area commanding river views. The Inventory entry for Murthly Castle says it is 'An outstanding landscape which makes a major contribution to the surrounding Tay Valley scenery and provides an attractive setting for several category A listed buildings'. Within the vast Murthly Estate policies, this area has long been a popular fishing spot and the fountain may have been installed for the use of fishing parties prior to the building of the adjacent lunch hut during the middle years of the 19th century. However, the formality of the fountain is reminiscent of the type found within formal gardens closer to the big house, so it was probably also intended to provide refreshment for those following one of the many formal walks in the outer policies. The somewhat eroded two line inscription appears to be in English possibly with the word 'BANK' closing the first line and 'DRINK' closing the second. The Parkland, laid out in the 17th and 18th centuries was enlarged and completely remodelled by John Wallace in 1830. His massive scheme created parkland throughout the policies at a time when it was not unusual for imported antiquities to be incorporated into such designs. The revived popularity of formal gardens led to 'foreign sites sometimes being plundered for the benefits of Scots gardens and courtyards' (Buxbaum). Groome says of Murthly Castle that 'The grounds are of singular beauty, both natural and artificial, with the 'Dead Walk' or ancient yew-tree avenue, the Douglasii Avenue, the Lime Avenue (1711), the Deodara or Sunk Terrace, and every variety of hill and dell, wood and stream, carriage-drive and sequestered walk'.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.