Building record MAB28568 - TEMPERANCE FOUNTAIN, FRASERBURGH

Temperance fountain, no longer in use as a fountain, erected in 1889.

Temperance fountain, no longer in use as a fountain, erected in 1889. It stood originally at circa NJ 9979 6708, in the centre of what is now a busy roadway, but was relocated to circa NJ 9982 6706 in the 1960s. Described as a 'slim elaborate cast-iron column supported by wyvern scrolls which ones spouted water into granite basins directly beneath.' (Walker and Woodworth, 2015). It was originally topped by a lantern, now removed. It was intended to provide clean drinking water to the poorer classes, as an alternative to alcohol and for those who could not afford coffee or tea. The basins were infilled with concrete sometime after the fountain was relocated to prevent their use. A watching brief was carried out over ground breaking works in 2021 by Cameron Archaeology, prior to the repositioning of the fountain following its restoration. Numerous services were encountered during the excavation and remains of two earlier modern ground surfaces were identified. No archaeological features were found. A photographic survey of the fountain in-situ was not possible due to the removal of the fountain for restoration works in 2021, but was obtained during restoration works whilst in storage.

WALKER, DW, 2015, THE BUILDINGS OF SCOTLAND: ABERDEENSHIRE: NORTH AND MORAY, pp.203-204 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3422.

CAMERON ARCHAEOLOGY, 2021, FOUNTAIN, BROAD STREET, FRASERBURGH, AB43 9AN: WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION (WSI), WSI (Bibliographic reference). SAB8245.

CAMERON ARCHAEOLOGY, 2021, TEMPERANCE FOUNTAIN, BROAD STREET, FRASERBURGH, AB43 9AN: WATCHING BRIEF, Watching Brief (Bibliographic reference). SAB8244.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2022, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 22 (2021), p. 16 (Bibliographic reference). SAB8314.

Apr 29 2021 , APP/2020/2176, APP/2020/2176 (Ground Photograph). SAB35500.

Record last edited

Nov 13 2025 2:56PM