British Geological Survey Building Stone Team


The United Kingdom has been a producer of building stone for many hundreds of years. Because of our varied geology, a wide range of building stone types have been used and this has influenced architectural style throughout Britain. The importance of this local distinctiveness is becoming increasingly recognised and the maintenance of the built heritage is now a significant issue to society. New construction, including streetscape and paving schemes, are also turning to natural stone. This has led to an increase in the demand for stone and a resurgence in some parts of the stone industry.

Friday, 23 October 2009

Stewart memorial fountain, switched on.

Stewart Memorial Foutain, image from BBC website

The A-listed fountain is located in Kelvingrove Park and was built in 1872 to commemorate Robert Stewart, the city’s Lord Provost from 1851 to 1854, who fought for Glasgow’s clean water system.

BGS Building Stone Team provided a stone match for the Stewart memorial fountain in spring 2009 which identified suitable stone types for its refurbishment. The original stone used in the fountain was most likely from a high quality local Glasgow blonde sandstone quarry (i.e. Bishopbriggs or Giffnock quarries); however, all of these quarries are currently closed and a suitable alternative match had to be identified for new replacement stone.

The fountain was turned on last week and can be visited in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow.

Water flows in memorial fountain
BBC article, 14 October 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8305572.stm

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