The Watson Fountain, Cowgate

Image: © Richard Sutcliffe Taken: 17 Feb 2022

According to an article in the Aberdeen Evening Express of 5 October 1893: Messrs J. Whitehead & Son, granite merchants, Aberdeen, have just completed two large drinking fountains, which are to be gifted, the first to the town of Hamilton, and the second to the town of Kirkintilloch, by Mr John Watson of Earnock. …The Kirkintilloch fountain is 19 feet in height, and the broadest part is 9 feet 4 inches. It also has a polished grey granite base, with four dog-troughs and four recess drinking basins. Above these are eight ref granite columns with arched moulded tops, and the whole is surmounted by a heavily moulded four-sided pediment, and a wrought iron lamp. On one side of the pedestal there is a bronze portrait of Mr Watson, and on the other a panel with the inscription – “Presented to his native town by John Watson of Earnock, 1893.” The architect for both was Mr Gavin Paterson, Hamilton… The bronze portrait of John Watson can be seen in this view. The public handing over of the fountain took place on 5 December 1893. The Kirkintilloch Herald of 6 December 1893 carries a full report of the event. Sir John Watson, 1st Baronet of Earnock (1819-98), made his fortune as a coal master. At the height of his career, he owned and directed a more extensive coal mining business than any other Scottish coal-owner. The later addition on the top of the fountain says: CA'CANNY BUT CA'AWA KTC 1214 1974 KTC 'Ca’canny but ca’awa' was the motto on the Kirkintilloch coat of arms. It means ‘Carry on carefully, but keep carrying on’. KTC stands for Kirkintilloch Town Council, which ceased to exist after 1974, when Kirkintilloch became part of Strathkelvin District Council in 1975. The other Watson Fountain mentioned above can be seen in Hamilton. See Image

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