Alford Bull

Alford Bull

Location

Alford

Date

2001

Description

Roadside life size naturalistic bronze of an Angus bull on a shallow stone plinth, surrounded by a small area of paving enclosed, on the field side, by a mortared rubble wall with cairn like pillars.
First Plaque reads:
ABERDEEN ANGUS
This bronze sculpture was commissioned by the community of Alford in 2001 to symbolise the historic connection between the the celebrated Aberdeen Angus breed and the village of Alford.
One of the founders of the breed, Wm. McCombie farmed at Tillyfour, Alford from 1820 to 1880 and was one of the most distinguished agriculturalists of his time.

"He found a purely local breed: he left a breed known and valued throughout the cattle countries of the world."

The model for this bull, Jeremy Eric of Bridgefoot, was bred by A. Fordyce & sons, Bridgefoot, Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, and purchased by F. J. Fraser & son Newton of Idvies, Forfar, at the Perth bull sales in February 2000 for 28,000 guineas.
Sculpter: David Annand
Casting: Powderhall Bronze Edinburgh
The second plaque is a list of notable financial contributors and the third in pink granite commemorates the royal unveiling. Also shown is a portrait head after an engraving of William McCombie.

Related Information

Commissioned by the Aberdeen Angus Sculpture Trust.

Unveiled by Prince Charles and the Queen Mother.
The (hornless) Aberdeenshire ancestors of the Aberdeen Angus were delightfully known as Buchan Humlies.

Era

2000s

Categories

Iconography

  • bull or cow
  • human face or head

Creators

  • David Annand, Sculptor
  • Powderhall Bronze, Edinburgh, Foundry

External Links

Photographer

  • Stanley Bruce

Unavailable Data

  • OS Map Reference
  • Information Source
  • Related Artefacts

This content was submitted by external contributors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Aberdeen.