Peel Park restored to former Victorian glory

Date: 
Wednesday, 31 August, 2022

Some of Peel Park's best known features have been restored to their former glory thanks to a £75,000 revamp by East Dunbartonshire Council.

The Victorian bandstand, drinking fountain and the park's 12 historic lamp posts have all been recently refurbished and the results speak for themselves.

All of the items had been made by Kirkintilloch's Lion Foundry. The Foundry was famous during the Victorian era for its decorative ironwork and the company donated the bandstand, drinking fountain and lamp posts to the people of Kirkintilloch in 1905.

However, the items were beginning to some signs of deterioration and an array of repairs to each structure was carried out by a specialist conservation company to preserve each items' integrity for future generations to enjoy.

The bandstand was the most challenging of the restoration works and involved amongst other things cleaning and repointing the whole base of the bandstand, making metalwork and timber repairs to the roof as well as fixing all the broken pipework on the structure. The whole bandstand was then re-painted.

Councillor Pamela Marshall, Vice Convener of Place, Neighbourhood and Corporate Assets, said, "Peel Park plays a key role in Kirkintilloch’s vibrant heritage and culture.

"This wonderful restoration work helps bring the park’s fascinating history to life. All the structures look stunning and it's great to see them restored to their former glory.

"It's interesting to see how much of the finer detail you can now see that has been highlighted during the restoration work using different gold coloured paint and gold leaf.

"The reaction of park users to this refurbishment has been hugely positive so far and many of them have stated that the park as a whole looks magnificent."

Peel Park band stand with Elected members and contractors

Councillor Pamela Marshall, Vice Convener of Place, Neighbourhood and Corporate Assets at the restored bandstand in Peel Park with local elected members Councillor Susan Murray and Councillor Stewart MacDonald, council officers, Ian Sneddon from Covanburn Contracts Limited and Conservation Architect, Eric Waterston.

Peel Park band stand with Elected members and contractors

Councillor Pamela Marshall, Vice Convener of Place, Neighbourhood and Corporate Assets at the restored fountain in Peel Park with local elected members Councillor Susan Murray and Councillor Stewart MacDonald, council officers, Ian Sneddon from Covanburn Contracts Limited and Conservation Architect, Eric Waterston.