Archaeology Notes

Event ID 803570

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/803570

NT26NE 12.01 27322 68363

(NT 2732 6836) St Catherine's or the Oily Well (NR)

OS 1:10000 map (1974)

The Balm-Well of St Catherine is situated within the grounds of St Katherine's, a children's home. On the surface of the water floats a black tarry substance because of which the well was famous for hundreds of years as a place of cure. This substance is derived from a minute spring exuding from the oil shale below.

The well takes its name from St Catherine of Alexandria.

Queen Margaret is the first royal parsonage whose interest in the well is recorded. In 1504, James IV made an offering to "Sanct Katrine's of the oly well", and James IV in 1617 ordered that it should be built with stones, and steps made, for easier access. The stonework of the well was almost totally demolished by Cromwell's soldiers in 1650.

In 1861, the structure was dilapidated, but it was carefully protected in 1889. It is housed within a tiny, modern vaulted structure, which contains a probably unconnected door lintel dated 1563. The inside of the chamber is coated with bituminous matter from the well. Even in 1910, its waters were thought curative for eczema.

It is alleged that leprosy was one of the diseases treated at this well. This claim should be discounted. It is based on the erroneous belief that the name of Liberton is a conversion of "leper-town" and that a leper hospital was situated in the immediate neighbourhood.

W N B Watson 1972; RCAHMS 1929, visited 1920

This well is as described.

Visited by OS (SFS) 22 October 1975.