St.
Bernard's well can be found on the Water of Leith
walkway between Deanhaugh Street and the Dean Bridge
in the estate originally known as St. Bernard's.
It was believed by some in the eighteenth century
that the mineral spring which trinkled in to the
river had medicinal qualities. A well house had existed
here since 1760.
In 1789 the owner, Francis Garden
of Troup (Lord Gladstone) was convinced the waters
eased his rheumatism and commissioned Alexander
Nasmyth to build a new pump room on the site.
Building started by Johnn Wilson
in the same year and St. Bernard's Well is in the
form of a Doric temple based on Sybil's Temple at
Tivoli with a domed roof supported by ten surrounding
collumns.
The staue in the centre is Hygeia
the Greek godess of health sculpted from Coade stone
by D.W. Stevenson. The snake and the challis are
ancient symbols of medicine.
The interior of the pump room
below has domed ceiling decorated with an ornate
mosaic ceiling and a guilded sun face with pierced
ventilation holes.
Access to the small pump room
is only available to the public at certain times
of the year, including Open Doors day.
Details of opening times will
be published here as they become available. |