The infamous Woodside Fountain has finally been restored to its rightful place on the corner of Don Street and Great Northern Road. This comes as the latest advancement in Woodside’s Gateway Feature Project.
In 2018, Aberdeen City Council secured funding from Sustrans Street Design Programme and launched the project to enhance the Tillydrone and Woodside areas. The aim of the project is to make Woodside and Tillydrone more attractive areas to live and work and focusses on the entrances to each neighbourhood and was developed in partnership with the community.
Since then, work has been done to transform the Mugger’s Brig underpass and sculptures installed on Hayton Road in Tillydrone. Now, work has begun on the Woodside part of the project on Don Street.
The Fountain, a landmark of Woodside, now stands alone on the site like days gone by. When the installation is complete, it will stand front and centre of the scene, representing Woodside’s history.
Next for the development, designer Hamish Biggs will begin work on the project’s accompanying art feature, a range of sculptures representing different aspects of Woodside. The sculptures, alongside the fountain Woodside’s heritage. From the canal, railway and the Grandholm and Paper Mills. There will also be depictions of local nature, which were developed with Fersands Adult arts class.
A mini park will be created with seating and greenspace, inhabited with new plants of native species.
Aberdeen City Council, Community Development Officer Hamish Cattanach explained “The idea for the Woodside Gateway first came about during the Street Design Project through the Printfield Community Project where the desired idea was to relocate the historical Woodside Fountain Lamp and Trough back to near its original location. It was then decided that the Fountain Lamp would be the main centerpiece and the other design ideas would be incorporated.”
He added “It’s taken a while for this project to be completed due to the Covid restrictions but finally it is now well on the way to being completed! Also please watch out for notification of the Woodside Gateway Feature Launch Ceremony!”
The artwork and green space will be installed in the coming weeks, so keep an eye out for the new editions to the feature.
