William Pye Water Scupture

Thistle Fountain

The restored Walled Garden at Dumfries House in Scotland was officially opened in July 2014 (now called the Queen Elizabeth Garden). The fountain is on two levels. For the centrepiece I modelled a thistle flower - Scotlland's symbol - cast in bronze with jets of water. The water flows over a circular bronze weir to the lower level, divided into a curtain of threads or rods.

For more information or to commission a similar piece, please send a request through the contact page on this website.


Concept development

  • First visit to the site, distant view of the Walled Garden
  • The Walled Garden in November 2013
  • Marking the right spot for the fountain
  • Finalised Thistle design

Construction

  • Making a start on modelling a thistle shape
  • The Thistle shape ready to be cast in bronze
  • Testing the jet which will fit inside the Thistle
  • Fabrication of the bronze weir at Benson-Sedgwick Engineering
  • Fixing the bronze shapes to guide the water around the bronze
  • Testing the jet on the bronze thistle feature
  • Water testing in the workshop

Completion and launch

  • Nearing completion, the base to be painted black instead of green
  • The Walled garden is ready for the official opening
  • Inauguration day
  • The crowd on inauguration day
  • Inauguration day


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