Location
Located by Gordon Arms Hotel, opposite Old Kirk
Kincardine O'Neil, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire
OS Map Reference
NO 592 997
Date
1858
Description
Spelt “St Erchan” in inscription and dated 1858 but recently restored by Alastair Urquhart in 1997. Square masonry housing for fountain with iron lion mask spout and iron finial.
The original -St Yarchard's Well- is a covered spring of which there is no trace. The water was piped to this public fountain, 400yds to the SW, which is built of masonry, surmounted by a small iron cross; built in the mid-19thC. it no longer functions. A new well with continuous running water has been built to the east side of the road, opposite the original site; at NO 595 997 it is named St Erchard's Well. (see related artefact)
Related Information
"A well, built pant of masonry, surmounted by a small iron cross, the whole erected in 1858. Its supply of water comes from a powerful spring about 400 yds NE of the pant (public fountain) and is conveyed to this place by pipes, the said spring being the original 'St Yarchard's Well', but as it is now covered in, the villagers perpetuate the old name by transferring it to the modern pant" (Ordnance Survey Name Book (ONB) 1865).
St Erchard is said to have been a local disciple of St Ternan (late 6th century). Name Book 1865; W J Watson 1926. from RCAHMS
Kincardine O'Neil is considered to be the oldest village on Deeside and was situated at a ford of the River Dee and was an
important drove route to the southern markets. St Erchard is stated to be the patron of the old kirk around 933AD.
Era
1800s
Information Source
Contributer, Aberdeenshire Sites and Monuments Record www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/archaeology/smr/ , RCAHMS.
Related Artefacts
Categories
Iconography
- cross, Roman
- lion
Photographer
- Jim Henderson
Unavailable Data
- Creator
- External Links
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