Edinburgh, Easter Dalry Road, Beer Movers

The Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (http://www.pmsa.org.uk/) set up a National Recording Project in 1997 with the aim of making a survey of public monuments and sculpture in Britain ranging from medieval monuments to the most contemporary works. Information from the Edinburgh project was added to the RCAHMS database in October 2010 and again in 2012.

The PMSA (Public Monuments and Sculpture Association) Edinburgh Sculpture Project has been supported by Eastern Photocolour, Edinburgh College of Art, the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, Historic Scotland, the Hope Scott Trust, The Old Edinburgh Club, the Pilgrim Trust, the RCAHMS, and the Scottish Archive Network.

Two stocky life-size draymen push a barrel of beer in a circular paved area. Both wear caps, aprons, steel-capped boots and short sleeves. One is bent over, pushing the side of the barrel with both hands as if to roll it, his left leg advanced. The other bends at the end of the barrel, legs apart; his right hand touching the barrel, his left held away as though preparing to slow down or stop the barrel's movement. The whole sculpture is painted black and has a slightly cartoonish appearance. The rendering of the figures is rather angular, especially that of the arms which are quite flat.

The ground was purchased by Cruden and Beazer for housing. Under the City of Edinburgh Council's One Percent for Art Scheme a sculpture was commissioned. As there had been a brewery on the site, the sculpture was designed to reflect that.

Inscriptions : On end of barrel facing Dalry Road (incised letters):

Beazer / HOMES / CRUDEN / 2000

Signatures : None Visible

Design period : 2000

Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0341)