By Elizabeth Hunter
Stunning pictures show Britain’s oldest water fountain, which once flowed with wine.
The fountain stands in the courtyard of Linlithgow Palace in Scotland – birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, and was built in 1538 by James V.
Standing 16ft tall, the fountain was designed to display the power of the king, decorated with carvings of mythical creatures like gryphons and mermaids.
The fountain also features a carving of King James V himself dressed as the Gudeman of Ballangeich – reportedly a disguise the king would don to walk amongst his subjects.
During special occasions – like the 1745 visit from Bonnie Prince Charlie – the fountain would even flow with wine.
After a fire damaged the palace in 1746, the fountain fell into a state of disrepair, but repairs undertaken in the 1930s unfortunately damaged the structure further.
A series of repair projects that ran from 2000 to 2007 restored the fountain to working order – but now, the water only runs on special occasions to stop further erosion of the original stones.
Doreen Grove, the principal inspector of ancient monuments for Historic Scotland, told the BBC in 2005: “The whole thing is about demonstrating James V’s political power and his international links.
“At the very top of the fountain is a crown and beneath it is a sun, which is trying to indicate that James was close to God.”
“As you go into the courtyard at Linlithgow, which is one of the most impressive spaces in Scotland, you were meant to say ‘wow’ – and you do again now.”
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