Wells . . . Magic, Holy and Medicine
A friend of mine sent me this and I really enjoyed it. I must say, though, I'm disappointed - I went to Scotland and did not see a single one of these! The country is not that big - how'd I miss them all?!
"It seems certain that wells, springs and pools were accredited with healing powers long before the Christian era. The custom of visiting “ holy wells” on the days of the saints who had blessed them can be traced back to a pagan water-cult of much more ancient times.
Scotland is a country of many waters, and thus there is no shortage of wells and springs. There were over six hundred holy wells dotted over this country at one time, and no doubt the Tay region had its fair share, though many have now fallen into oblivion.
Probably these magic or holy wells were originally the shrines of local deities. A spring of water bubbling out from some secret crevice of the rocks or from some obscure pocket of the soil meant life, and where there was life there was a spirit. But in due course these wells were Christianised. There are tales of St. Columba and other saints blessing wells of evil repute, and driving the evil demons from them.
Grew's Well (Dunkeld) St. Fillan’s Well (Loch Earn), St. John’s Well (Marykirk, in the Mearns) and St. Trodlin’s Well (Rescobie, Angus) are examples of holy and “healing” wells, much visited on certain days of the year. Sometimes a “ holy fair was held in the vicinity of such wells, and no doubt in the revelry that accompanied these pilgrimages many relics of paganism survived.
There are several “Nine Maidens’ Wells.” The one in the park at Glamis Castle serves as a memorial to nine saintly ladies of the 8th century, whose missionary labours, conducted from Abernethy, earned them a place among our earthly saints. But the tradition attached to another such well, near Dundee, tells of a farmer’s nine daughters failing to return, when sent one after another to fetch water. Seeking the cause, the farmer and a prospective son-in-law discovered two great serpents lurking by the well. Valiantly they drove the monsters away, and finally dispatched them at Balluderon.
Gifts of silver coins and pieces of cloth were often left in or alongside wells as a thanks offering. This is still done to some extent, and like the practice of throwing coins into the River Tay for luck, is certainly a pagan and superstitious custom.
I should also mention the practice of making a bargain over running water. In a way it is “calling the water” as a witness. Lovers plighting their troth stood on opposite banks, dipped their fingers in the burn, clasped hands and exchanged vows. Thus Robert Burns plighted his troth with Highland Mary, and many other lovers have done the same thing since. In Angus, however, young folks were often more sparing with the water—they simply licked their thumbs and pressed them together. “There’s my vow, I’ll ne’er beguile thee.”
Farmers, too, spit in their loofs before shaking hands over a bargain. “Dookin’ for apples” at Halloween was in origin a Druidical rite associated with water. Water was used as a witness in witch trials at such places as the Witches’ Pool, St. Andrews, and at a similarly named pool at Lunan.
But the most sacred of all water was the dew of the morning, and the lasses of Tayside and round about still rise very early on the first of May to wash their faces in the May dew, thus linking themselves with other maidens of the long-distant past.
Wells Of Angus
1. Queen’s Well-Glenmark, Lochlee Parish
2. Monk’s Pool-near church ruins, Kitkton, Lochlee
3. Scots Well-near Stripe of Droustie, Lochlee
4. Meg Blair’s Well- ditto
5. Droustie’s (St. Drostan’s) Well, near Invermark Castle, Lochlee
6. Nettle Well-Nettlewell Hillock, south of Cornescorn, Edzell Ph
7. Mary Well-south of Meikle TulIc, Edzell
8. St. Drostan’s Well-site of, west of Mid-Mains of Balfour, Fettercairn
9. McComie’s Well and Chair-south of Creagan Caise, Glenisla
10. Holy Well-near chapel ruins (1693) Balnaboth, Cortachy
11. Bell’s Witter, Clach of Glentaire, Cortachy and Clova
12. Well, near Priest’s Stone, Newbigging, Lethnot and Navar
13. St. Mary’s Well, near church, Bridgend, Lethnot and Navar
14. Well-Caterthun Fort, Gallows Wood, Lethnot and Navar
15. Well and Baths-Edzell Castle ruins, Edzell
16. Lady Well. site of, Chapelton, Menmuir
17. Bra Well, near church, Stracathro
18. Golan Well, and Well, near chapel-site and Auchenchapel, Glenisla
19. St. Andrew’s Well, south of Londrum Earn Scar, Lintrathen
20. The Docken Well, Scad Cairns, Catlaw border of Lintrathen and Kingoldrum
21. Whey Wells, north of Leytack, east of Eastside wood, Pinderachy, Fern
22. St. Aidan’s Well, Kirkton of Menmuir
23. Jenkins Well, Balrownie Wood, Menmuir
24. St. Vivian’s Well, near Vane Castle, Fern
25. College Well, St. Michael’s Mount, Brechin
26. St. Martin’s Well, St. Martin’s Den, Logie
27,28. Wells in wood, Dovecot, Kirkside, St. Cyrus
29. Well of Bowbale, Hill of Fernyhurst, Glenisla
30. Duckladge Well, Black Hill, Lintrathen
31. Abernathan Well, near Castlehill Wood, Kirriemuir
32. Cattle Well, Lochmill, Kirriemuir33. Witch Pool, Meikle Mills, Kirriemuir
34. St. Columba’s Well, Shielhill, Kirriemuir
35. St. Mary’s Well, Gallow Path, near site of chapel, Rescobie
36. Chapel Well, north-east of Whitemire, Aberlemno
37. Well-Vitrified Fort, Hill of Finavon, Oathlaw38. Nine Wells, Hill of Finavon, Oathlaw
39. Hen Well, north-west of W’hinnydrum, Aberlemno
40. St. Murdoch’s Well, near West Drums, Brechin41. Pater Well, near Burial Ground, Deerpark Cottage, Kinnaird
42. Rosamond’s Pond, near Kinnaird Castle43. Battle Well, Battle Drum, Montreathmont Moor, Brechin
44. Lady Well, near Rosehill, Lunan Den, Brechin45. Well, near Fort, Barry Hill, Alyth
46. St. Ninian’s Well, north-east of Powderwalls, Alyth
47. Dovecot Well, near Balloch, Alyth48. St. Madden’s Well, site of Cleikheim, near Kirkton of Airlie, Alyth
49. Hassock Well, west of North Whitehills, Forfar50. Lunan Well, near Restenneth, Lunanhead, Forfar
51. St. Fergus’ Well, also remains of church, north of Woodfaulds, Glamis
52. Maid’s Well, Drumhead Plantation, Rescobie53. Purdie’s Well, east of Ouchterlony, Rescobie
54. Cardinal’s Well, quarry, Hillend, Dunnichen
55. Paterlochwell, near Cottarward, Dunnichen
56. Camperdown Well (formerly St. Causnan’s)-near site of St. Causnan’s Chapel, Dunnichen
57. May’s Well, south of Dunnichen Moss58. Tothel or Lothel Well-West Mill, Dunnichen
59. Hogg’s Well, west of Fairies’ Knowe, Dunnichen
60. Medicine Well, near Idvles Sawmill, Dunnichen
61. King’s Well, Dumbarrow Hill, Dunnichen
62. Nine Wells, East of Peallock Quarry, Lunan
63. Lady Well, Netherton, Alyth
64. St. Anthony’s Well, south of Henderstone Wood, Auchterhouse
65. Iron Harrow Well, Hayston Hill, Tealing66. Knellock Well, Gallow Hill, Sidlaws, Inverarity
67. Seggie Well, west of Guynd, Carmyllie
68. King’s Well, east of Fallaws, Carmyllie
69. Golly Well-Milton of Carmyllie
70. St. John’s Well, east of the Temple, Roman Camp, Guynd
71. Helly Well, east of Shelterfield, Arbirlot72. God’s Well, south-west of Swirlburn, Arbirlot
73. St. Ringan’s Well, alongside Rottenraw Burn and field named the College, Arbirlot
74. Well, ruins of St. Vigean’s Chapel, Arbirlot75. Mary Well, Marywell Village, St. Vigean’s
76. Silver Well, Silverwells, St. Vigean’s
77. Nickies Well, Witchwood, Arbroath and St. Vigean’s
78. Lanuner Well, south-west of Newton Hill, Arbroath and St. Vigean’s
79. Cartyheugh Well, Kelly Den, Arbroath and St. Vigean’s
80. Monk’s Well, Kelly Den, Arbroath and St. Vigean’s
81. Dripping Well, beside rock-arch called the Castle Gate, Arbroath cliffs
82. St. Ninian’s Well, site of chapel, Whiting Ness, Arbroath
83. Bower Well, in wood, Brunty Sawmill, Blairgowrie84. Camp Well, site of Roman Camp, Campmuir, Kettins
85. Horse Well, Smithton, Smithton Hill, Lundie86. Craig Well - ditto
87. Scotston Well, Little Scotston, north of Kirkton of Auchterhouse
88. Nine Maidens Well, site of Bracken Bruach, south of Kirkton of Auchterhouse
89. St. Andrew’s Well, East Hillhead, north of Kirkton of Monikie
90. Peter’s Cauldron, Guildy Den, Panbride91. Matty’s Well - ditto
92. Dundas Well, site of Boath Chapel, Pitlivie Moor Plantation, Arbirlot
93. Peatmire Well, Black Wood, Arbirlot94. Batties Well, north of Haughhead, Arbirlot
95. St. Kane’s Well, site of Ardestie Castle, Monifieth
96. Nine Maidens Well, Castle Park, Glamis99. The Tottler, Milton of Conon, Carmyllie
100. St. Sinavey - locally known as Sunny Vie, Den o’ Mains, Dundee"
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