Glasgow Green is one of the city’s most popular green spaces and holds a lot of historical artefacts. Situated just in front of the people’s palace is the Doulton Fountain, built in 1887 for the Queen’s Jubilee.
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00:00This is the Dolton Fountain, located in Glasgow's East End, a characterising feature of Glasgow Green that sits right in front of the People's Palace.
00:08It also happens to be the largest terracotta fountain in the world, which makes it particularly unique.
00:14It was designed to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887, and was originally installed in Kelvin Grove Park as the main display piece for the International Exhibition in 1888, which brought around 6 million visitors to the city.
00:29At the time, Glasgow was the British Empire's second city, and the exhibition had only ever been held in London, so this piece was especially important in harnessing the city's reputation and helping put it in the spotlight.
00:42It was then moved to Glasgow Green in 1890, and then moved a second time within the same park, to the site it is located today in 2004, after a £2 million restoration.
00:53The structure features symbols of Britain's four former colonies, Australia, Canada, India and South Africa, while the four centuries represent the regiments of Scotland, Ireland, England and the Royal Navy.
01:07It was designed by Arthur Edward Pearse, who was heavily influenced by the ornate French Renaissance style, and then built by the Royal Dolton Company.
01:15Made of red terracotta bricks built around iron framework, this material was selected because it can be worked quickly and delicately, and is weather-resistant and durable.
01:26It was an extremely popular work when it was first erected, widely praised as an alliance to the beautiful and the useful.
01:33Glasgow is not lacking in stunning architecture or structural design, but this is one of my favourites.