Aitken Memorial gets a makeover

22 Jul 2010

The restoration of the Aitken Memorial Fountain at Govan Cross is an important step in the regeneration of the area.

The fountain at Govan Cross is currently missing - but it will return! It has now been taken away to be fully restored by a specialist contractor, Ballantine of Bo'ness.

The restored fountain will return in the new year as the refurbishment works at Govan Cross come together, creating an attractive and vibrant space at the Cross.

Currently around Govan Cross you can see a series of posters about the restoration of the fountain, which were created by pupils at Hills Trust Primary School. We've gathered the artwork that the children created together as an Image Gallery about the Aitken Memorial Fountain.

The Aitken Memorial Leaflet (pdf) tells more of the story of the fountain.

A Govan Baby DVD has been produced featuring reminiscences about Govan and the fountain and showing the drawings produced by local school children. If you would like a copy contact GSWRA cgap@gswra.co.uk or a call 0141 440 2334.

The Aitken Memorial Fountain was created in1884 and is the only surviving example the decorative, cast iron drinking fountains produced by Cruikshanks & Co.'s foundry at the Denny Works, Stirlingshire.

The fountain commemorates Dr. John Aitken (1838-1880), who provided medical care to the workers of the nearby Ibrox and Drumoyne collieries, and who served as the Police Surgeon and Medical Officer to the  Burgh of Govan from 1864, until his death in 1880.

As more information about the restoration of the fountain becomes available, you'll be able to find it here.

  • Before restoration
  • After blasting
  • The new baby