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Edinburgh, Howden Hall Road, St Catherine's House, Balm Well
Holy Well (17th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh, Howden Hall Road, St Catherine's House, Balm Well
Classification Holy Well (17th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Oily Well
Canmore ID 152718
Site Number NT26NE 12.01
NGR NT 27322 68363
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/152718
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
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.
Project (1997)
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.
Field Visit (14 May 2002)
Early 19th century gable incorporating a lintel from a doorway (with above inscription). Inside, the opening is flanked by stones with attached shafts.
The original well was built by order of James V in 1517.
Inscriptions : On lintel: AP 1563
Signatures : None
Design period : 1517 (original well) / early 19th century
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0824)
