Saints in Scottish Place-Names
Funded by a Leverhulme Trust Project Grant
St John's Well, Marykirk
Grid reference
NO 691 664 (accurate position)
Six-figure easting & northing
369100 766400
Latitude
56.788270165977856
Longitude
-2.5058425659487065
Altitude (metres)
55
County
Kincardineshire
Nearby places
Ladybank Well, Marykirk (0.57 miles)
Marykirk, eccles. Marykirk/Aberlethnott (0.64 miles)
Marykirk, parish, aka Aberlethnott (0.64 miles)
Balmakelly, Marykirk (0.69 miles)
Marymill, settlement, Marykirk (0.75 miles)
Object Classification
Antiquity
Water
Is linear feature?
No
Notes
In the garden of Balmanno House, Marykirk. OSA recorded in 1796, 'There is also at Balmano, a fine spring-well, called St John's-well, which in ancient times, was held in great estimation. Numbers who thought its waters of a sanative quality, brought their rickety children to be washed in its stream. Its water was likewise thought a sovereign remedy for sore eyes, which by frequent washing, was supposed to cure them. To show their gratitude to the Saint, and that he might be propitious to continue the virtues of the waters, they put into the well presents, not indeed of any great value, or such as would have been of the least service to him, if he had stood in need of money, but such as they conceived, the good and merciful Apostle, who did not delight in costly oblations, could not fail to accept.'
Relationships with other parishes
Names
1 head-name linked to this place ?St John's Well
Head name
St John's Well
Place
St John's Well, Marykirk
Certainty that this name applies to this place
Certain
The status of this name is
Current
Is this a current OS form? ?
Yes
Is this the original referent of the place?
Yes
Is the association of this name to this object hypothetical?
No
St John's-well 1796, OSA
Historic formSt John's-well Head nameSt John's Well PlaceSt John's Well, Marykirk Certainty that this name applies to this placeCertain SourceOSA, xviii, 630 Date of citation1796 x 1796 |
Source code
OSA
Source title
Old Statistical Account
St John's Well 1843, OS 6 inch first edn.
Historic formSt John's Well Head nameSt John's Well PlaceSt John's Well, Marykirk Certainty that this name applies to this placeCertain SourceOS 6 inch first edn. Date of citation1843 x 1882 Notes on the context of this place-nameMid to late 19th c. |
Source code
OS 6 inch first edn.
Source title
Ordnance Survey 6 Inch to the Mile, First Edition
Notes
Mid to late 19th c.
Saints in this place-name
John (ns) (certain)
John the Apostle or Evangelist (maybe)
John the Baptist (maybe)