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The Ancient Celts, Barry Cunliffe

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<< Our Photo Pages >> St Bernard's Well - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in Scotland in Midlothian

Submitted by KiwiBetsy on Sunday, 05 December 2004  Page Views: 19309

Springs and Holy WellsSite Name: St Bernard's Well
Country: Scotland County: Midlothian Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring
Nearest Town: Edinburgh
Map Ref: NT2445174247
Latitude: 55.955282N  Longitude: 3.211524W
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
5 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
5 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
5

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Anne T visited on 17th Dec 2015 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 2 Access: 4 St Bernard's Well, Edinburgh: This was by far the most attractive of the three wells we saw in Edinburgh today, although again I wouldn’t have known it was a well but for the plaque next to it telling us it had been refurbished in Victorian times. It sits at the base of a steep hill with housing and private gardens above, with the Water of Leith running below. It is apparently possible to get inside the structure during ‘Doors Open’ day, although the gate and door were very well padlocked, and the number of vodka bottles and cans inside the temple indicates its well used by drinkers who hop over the gate. We did intend going up to Arthur's seat to see 2 other wells and the hill fort but the wet and windy weather drove us indoors to get warm.

feorag schwagmyre have visited here

St Bernard's Well
St Bernard's Well submitted by KiwiBetsy : One for the birds. (Vote or comment on this photo)
St Bernard’s Well is found on the Leith Walkway between Dean Village and Stockbridge.

Legend has it that the spring was first discovered by St Bernard of Clairvaux, founder of the Cistercian order in the 12th century. While living in a nearby cave and feeling quite unwell he was attracted to the spring by birds and after some days of drinking the water was restored to health.

In 1764 the water was very popular although likened to tasting like the “washings of foul gunbarrels”. In 1788 Lord Gardenstone was so impressed by the well’s effects that he commissioned the circular “Roman” Temple that still covers the wellhouse. Ten Doric columns support a lead dome and surround a marble statue of Hygieia, Goddess of Health.

Steps lead down to a small, locked wooden door in the base of the temple and an inscription in the stonework left no doubt that behind the door was St Bernard’s Well. Standing there, in that beautiful quiet spot by the Leith with trees soaring overhead, it was hard to believe we were just minutes from the heart of Edinburgh.

For more information see Canmore ID 52586 which adds that in September 1760, the following was reported in The Scots Magazine: " To preserve the well from the injury of the weather, and prevent its being overflowed by the Water of Leith, on the banks of which it is situated, a stone covering is to be erected over it. The foundation-stone of this building was laid September 15th...by Alexander Drummond, brother of Provost Drummond."
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St Bernard's Well
St Bernard's Well submitted by KiwiBetsy : Sign inside the celestial vault. St Bernard’s Well is now cared for by the Water of Leith Conservation Trust. (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Bernard's Well
St Bernard's Well submitted by KiwiBetsy : The ceiling of the vault is a mosaic blue dome decorated with stars and a frieze. In the centre, directly above the pump and urn, is a radiant sun, concealed behind it’s rays are holes to allow ventilation. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

St Bernard's Well
St Bernard's Well submitted by KiwiBetsy : Steps lead down from the Leith Walkway to a door under the Roman Doric rotunda. (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Bernard's Well
St Bernard's Well submitted by feorag : The statue of Hygeia at St. Bernard's Well. Photographed 23rd March 2003. (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Bernard's Well
St Bernard's Well submitted by Anne T : Looking back at St. Bernard's Well from the footpath, half way between this well and St. George's Well, a few hundred feet away.

St Bernard's Well
St Bernard's Well submitted by Anne T : St. Bernard's Well, approached along the wide footpath from Dean Village. It looks more like a Roman Temple than a well, although I'm told by a local that you can access the interior on Doors Open Days.

St Bernard's Well
St Bernard's Well submitted by KiwiBetsy : Washing up facilities.

St Bernard's Well
St Bernard's Well submitted by KiwiBetsy : A stove for heating water, also showing the mosaic floor.

St Bernard's Well
St Bernard's Well submitted by KiwiBetsy : Golden mosaic stars decorate the ceiling.

St Bernard's Well
St Bernard's Well submitted by KiwiBetsy : On top of the pump stands a marble urn decorated with health related Roman scenes.

St Bernard's Well
St Bernard's Well submitted by KiwiBetsy : Through the door in the base of St Bernard’s Wellhouse lies the pump room which was lavishly refurbished about 1885 so that Victorian’s could ‘take the waters’ in a ‘celestial vault’. The water was claimed to have medicinal properties ranging from being a general tonic to being a cure for arthritis and rheumatics. The well continued to be popular until it closed about 1940. Chemical an...

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 184m SSW 195° St George's Well (Edinburgh)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NT2440174070)
 893m SE 134° St Margaret's Well (Edinburgh Castle)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NT2508273613)
 1.1km SE 130° Stone of Scone* Marker Stone (NT253735)
 1.3km SE 135° Grassmarket modern menhir* Standing Stone (Menhir) (NT25337333)
 1.3km SE 139° The Portsburgh Stone* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (NT25287327)
 1.6km SE 126° National Museum of Scotland (Pictish Stones)* Museum (NT2572173302)
 1.6km SE 125° National Museum of Scotland* Museum (NT2574873290)
 1.7km ESE 123° National Museum of Scotland (Early Christian Stones)* Ancient Cross (NT2583273324)
 1.7km WSW 247° Succoth Place Double Cist Burial Cist (NT22897362)
 1.9km ESE 105° St John's Cross (Canongate)* Ancient Cross (NT2628873733)
 2.0km SE 129° Edinburgh Runestone* Carving (NT2598972937)
 2.1km E 101° Canongate Mercat Cross* Ancient Cross (NT2647273812)
 2.3km E 97° Girth Cross (Canongate)* Ancient Cross (NT2673973910)
 2.7km S 178° The Bore Stone* Marker Stone (NT2450871568)
 2.7km ESE 110° Salisbury Crags* Promontory Fort / Cliff Castle (NT27007326)
 2.7km E 100° St Margaret's Well (Edinburgh)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NT2713373712)
 2.7km ESE 122° Slidey Stane (Holyrood Park)* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (NT2676672765)
 3.1km E 100° St Anthony's Well (Edinburgh)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NT27527364)
 3.1km SE 141° Penny Well (Edinburgh)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NT26367177)
 3.5km ESE 119° Samson's Ribs* Promontory Fort / Cliff Castle (NT27457250)
 3.5km ESE 113° Arthur's Seat* Hillfort (NT27647282)
 3.6km S 178° Hanging Stanes (Braid Road)* Marker Stone (NT24517061)
 3.9km ESE 105° Dunsapie Crag* Hillfort (NT28177316)
 3.9km E 86° St Triduana's Wellhouse* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (NT2833274468)
 4.0km ESE 105° Holyrood Park Stone (Edinburgh) Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (NT28267313)
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"St Bernard's Well" | Login/Create an Account | 4 News and Comments
  
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Re: St Bernard's Well by Sunny100 on Wednesday, 24 November 2010
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Did St Bernard of Clairvaux ever come to Scotland ? Or did one of his followers such as St Stephen Harding, St Robert of Molesme and St Alberic. I can't find any evidence to suggest that St Bernard was ever in Scotland.
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Re: St Bernard's Well by Anonymous on Monday, 28 August 2006
I love the prehistoric art at this site.

Sorry to hear about your health problems Ethelwolf. May I ask, what's wrong with you?
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Re: St Bernard's Well by Ethelwulf on Sunday, 27 August 2006
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This is a wonderful find, and your images illustrate this fine medieval well, very effectively.
This is within easy reach at my base in Wooler, Northumberland, for an interesting day out.

I could do with some of that elixir of health, that old Bernard imbibed!
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Re: St Bernard's Well by feorag on Friday, 11 August 2006
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It was possible to go inside the well on Open Doors Day in September 1996, so I did. The room where the waters were taken is impressively decorated and still in reasonable condition, the ceiling painted to represent a blue sky with stars. There was a drinking fountain in the middle of the room, but I have no idea if it still works.

The statue of Hygeia was added by publisher William Nelson in 1884.
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