Location
Under Glenury viaduct, Mineralwell Park at the northern edge of the town
Stonehaven, Kincardine
OS Map Reference
NO 868 868
Date
1860
Description
An elegant pedimented fountain of Peterhead granite, the basin is backed by an ornate niche decorated with a carved scallop shell in high relief. The plaque reads "St Kierans well erected by public subscription A.D. 1860"
Related Information
"The only reason given for its association with St Ciaran or St Kieran is the fact that St Ciaran's Church is only about a mile away" (information from Mr C George, 'The Mearns Leader', Stonehaven).
"Near the distillery at the west end of Mineral Well Road, immediately below the Glenury railway viaduct, is an elegant fountain of Peterhead granite into which once ran the water of chalybeate spring for many years famous for its health-giving properties. The fountain was built on the site of the old holy well of St Kieran which dried up when the supply was cut to build the fountain and it was impossible to find it again." Morris and Morris
St. Ciarán was an Irish monk, a presumed missionary to the Picts (if it is was St. Ciaran founder of Clonmacnois who lived from circa 512-544AD it is hard to see how he had the time) there are also many other saints of the same name St. Ciaran (the Elder) of Ossory or of Saighir not to mention Saint Ciarán of Disert-Kieran, Saint Ciarán of Clonsost, Saint Ciarán mac Colga and an often confused St. Piran, in fact there are so many dark-age St Ciaráns it is something of an academic joke.
Era
1800s
Information Source
RCAHMS http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/
Morris and Morris, R and F (1982 ) Scottish healing wells: healing, holy, wishing and fairy wells of the mainland of Scotland, Sandy, 122,
Categories
Iconography
- scallop shell
Photographer
- Dave Morrow
Unavailable Data
- Related Artefacts
- Creator
- External Links
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