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<< Our Photo Pages >> Physic Well (Corstorphine) - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in Scotland in Midlothian

Submitted by feorag on Friday, 26 May 2017  Page Views: 17946

Springs and Holy WellsSite Name: Physic Well (Corstorphine) Alternative Name: Sulphurous Spa
Country: Scotland County: Midlothian Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring
Nearest Town: Edinburgh  Nearest Village: Corstorphine
Map Ref: NT19597252
Latitude: 55.938980N  Longitude: 3.288838W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
3 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
5 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
3

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I have visited· I would like to visit

Anne T visited on 18th May 2017 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 5 The Physic Well, Corstophine, Edinburgh: Pulling up on the northern section of Dunsmuir Court from Ladywell Road, I thought we’d spotted the well head under the trees between the houses and the main road, but this turned out to be a milestone! Thankfully having the image of the well from the Portal, we followed the Court round to the garden at the back, and found the well behind a black metal railing which looked as if it had been painted recently. The area between the houses has been turned into a modern garden, with tall stones looking like standing stones between the plants. A lovely little spot, a little oasis away from the busy Edinburgh roads not far away. The blocks of flats here are being renovated and the area has a bright, airy feel. Shame there was no water in the well, though, especially as it used to be such a tourist attraction in the past.

meccameron visited on 12th Feb 2017 I was very pleasantly surprised to find it was all tidied up (having only seen the picture for non-members). The whole area has been landscaped next to the well with some modern standing stones made of some beautiful Gneiss. These standing stones and the landscaping look very recent

feorag have visited here

Physic Well (Corstorphine)
Physic Well (Corstorphine) submitted by Anne T : This whole corner has been nicely landscaped, with flower beds with modern standing stones between the plants. A little oasis not far from the busy main roads. (Vote or comment on this photo)
This actual well has been destroyed by drainage operations, but was highly reputed in the eighteenth century, so much so that a coach ran 8-9 times each weekday from Edinburgh. The well was to the west of the High Street, on what is now Dunsmuir, and houses were built to accommodate those who came for a course of the waters.

The well lost its popularity in the mid- to late 1700s, and by 1790 it had “been in total disrepute and disuse for a number of years,” and when the Stank Burn (a drainage ditch) was widened and deepened the water lost its medicinal qualities altogether.”

The remains of the well can be seen at the bottom of Dunsmuir Court. The stone edging was restored in 1972-73 when the Stank Burn was enclosed in a pipe. Prior to this, the remains had been buried underground. This is not the original location. A plaque on the remains explains This well was on the southside of the Stank Burn & some 40 yards east of this spot.

References:
Aitchison, Kevin (2001) A Brief History The Village of Corstorphine.
Morris, R. & Morris, F., 1982. Scottish Healing Wells. healing, holy, wishing and fairy wells; Sandy, Alethea Press. (p93)
Selway, G. Upton, 1890. A Mid-Lothian Village - notes on the village and parish of Corstorphine. Edinburgh, George Waterston and Sons.

Note: This whole corner has been nicely landscaped, with flower beds with modern standing stones between the plants. A little oasis not far from the busy main roads.
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Physic Well (Corstorphine)
Physic Well (Corstorphine) submitted by feorag : The overgrown remains of the Physic Well, Corstorphine. Photographed 23rd October 2005. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Physic Well (Corstorphine)
Physic Well (Corstorphine) submitted by Anne T : Close up of the plaque on the well head. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Physic Well (Corstorphine)
Physic Well (Corstorphine) submitted by Anne T : A close up of the well head. Sadly there was no water - I'd had loved to have tasted these sulphurous waters, especially as it was such a tourist attraction in the past. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Physic Well (Corstorphine)
Physic Well (Corstorphine) submitted by Anne T : The area around the well has been tidied up, and its nice and smart. The well head is protected by a black painted iron railing. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Physic Well (Corstorphine)
Physic Well (Corstorphine) submitted by meccameron : This is the landscaped 'standing stones' near the Physic Well

Physic Well (Corstorphine)
Physic Well (Corstorphine) submitted by meccameron : This is the well today 12/2/17

Physic Well (Corstorphine)
Physic Well (Corstorphine) submitted by meccameron : This is the modern standing stones / landscaping round the Physic Well

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"Physic Well (Corstorphine)" | Login/Create an Account | 1 comment
  
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Re: Physic Well (Corstorphine) by feorag on Wednesday, 29 June 2011
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