St John's Well, The Law

Eighteenth- and nineteenth-century accounts suggest that there was a well at the base of the hillock named The Law, which lies south of the River Tweed to the north of Roxburgh Newtown.

The well was reportedly a holy well, dedicated to St. John. The remains of a structure were recorded, but no traces can now be identified.

Holy wells, often renowned for their curative properties, were popular sites of pilgrimage in the medieval period, but their use was strongly discouraged by the post-Reformation church.

Text prepared by RCAHMS as part of the Accessing Scotland's Past project

NT63SE 16 6738 3144.

"A well of several streams called 'St. John's' issued from the base of The Law (Roxburgh 9 NE 5) and from the salubrity of the wataer and the remains of a nice building must have been of great repute."

A Jeffrey 1864; Statistical Account (OSA, A Bell) 1797.

No trace of any well or spring was found round the base of the Law. No further information was obtained.

Visited by OS(WDJ) 13 September 1962.