SMM+S

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:19 am Post subject: St Bernard's Well

St. Bernard's Well
Location: The Water of Leith walkway at Stockbridge
OS Ref: NT 244 741
Sculptor of Hygeia: D W Stevenson (1888)
Architect of Pump House: Alexander Naismyth

Naismyth's 1789 Doric temple replaced a simple pump house built in 1760 when the well was first discovered.

The Dome has a pineapple finial but it's not that clear in these images.

There is a plaque beside the Pump House of William Nelson, the last privateowner of the well.

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Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:14 pm Post subject:

From the Edinbugh Council website:

St Bernard's Well

Traditionally the mineral springs at St. Bernards Well are believed to have been discovered by three boys from Heriot's Hospital about 1760. In 1789 the owner, Francis Garden of Troup (Lord Gardenstone) commissioned a new pump house.

The architect was Alexander Naismyth whose design was based on Sybils's Temple at Tivoli, with ten columns in a circle surrounding a statue of Hygeia in Coade stone.

The interior has a mosaic floor in terracotta and white with ornate mosaic domed ceiling and gilded sun-face with pierced ventilation holes.
Following the death of the last private owner, William Nelson the publisher, his trustees offered the well to Edinburgh Town Council as a gift.
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Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:14 pm Post subject:

Last year the Well was open on these dates (from the Edinburgh Council website) and manned by volunteers from the Dean Village Association. I don’t know if it will be open again on Sundays near these dates in 2009.

St Bernard’s Well, situated by the Water of Leith in Stockbridge,
will be open to the public from 12pm to 3pm on the following days in 2008:

Sunday 6 April 2008
Sunday 4 May 2008
Sunday 1 June 2008
Sunday 6 July 2008
Sunday 10 August 2008
Sunday 17 August 2008
Sunday 24 August 2008
Sunday 31 August 2008
Sunday 27 September 2008 (as part of Doors Open Day)

Adam
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Caroline · Forum Member Joined: 26 Nov 2008 Posts: 14

Yes, the Well will be open on those sorts of Sundays and on Doors Open Day. Access free. The precise dates will be confirmed on the website www.deanvillage.org Sorry, Adam, yes I am involved with that too!

Door Open Day is the most hectic - and last year some lucky people got to witness me setting fire to myself - so try one of the other Sundays.

I have LOTS of photographs of the interior! It's worth seeing.

Caroline

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 8:37 am Post subject:

Thanks Caroline, if it is half as impressive as the outside it will be well worth visiting, my photos from a very quick (and very cold) lunchtime visit do not do it justice.

Adam
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Scottish War Memorials Project
Scottish War Graves Project