An historic "Clootie" well, pre-dating the now much more famous Clootie Well at Munlochy.
Visited with members of North of Scotland Archaeological Society on 9th January 2014. Photo attached.
The well is set into the side of a bank, about 50 metres above the HTM. It is surrounded by dressed stones and there is evidence of stone lining deep within the depths of the well. Fresh and a few fading “clooties” attached to top of well show it is still frequented although now quite difficult to get to. The stones of the well surround are collapsing, particularly under the weight of the roots of an adjacent tree. Local information is that the well flows all year round.
There is a particularly long and detailed account of a visit to the well in CHAMBERS’ BOOK OF DAYS – A Miscellany of Poplular Antiquities in Connection with the Calendar including anecdote, biography, curiosities and literature and oddities of human life and character. 1869. (See: http://www.thebookofdays.com/index.html)
This Yearbook has an entry on May 15th as follows:
First Sunday Morning Of May At Craigie Well, Blackisle Of Ross
Among the many relics of superstition still extant in the Highlands of Scotland, one of the most remarkable is the veneration paid to certain wells, which are supposed to possess eminent virtues as charms against disease, witchcraft, fairies, and the like, when visited at stated times, and under what are considered favourable auspices.
Craigie Well is situated in a nook of the parish of Avoch, which juts out to the south, and runs along the north shore of the Munlochy bay. The well is situated within a few yards of high-water mark. It springs out between two crags or boulders of trap rock, and immediately behind it the ground, thickly covered with furze, rises very abruptly to the height of about sixty feet. Probably the name of the well is suggested by the numerous masses of the same loose rock which are seen to protrude in so many places here and there through the gorse and broom which grow round about. There is a large briar bush growing quite near the two masses of rock mentioned, which is literally covered with small threads and patches of cloth, intended as offerings to the well. None, indeed, will dare go there on the day prescribed without bringing an offering, for such would be considered an insult to the 'healing waters!'
For more than a week before the morning appointed for going upon this strange pilgrimage, there is scarcely a word heard among farm servants within five miles of the spot, but, among the English speaking people, 'Art thee no ganging to Craigack wall, to get thour health secured another year? ' and, among the Gaelic speaking population, ' Dol gu topar Chreckack?'
Instigated more by curiosity than anything else, I determined to pay this well a visit, to see how the pilgrims passed the Sunday morning there. I arrived about an hour before sunrise; but long before crowds of lads and lasses from all quarters were fast pouring in. Some, indeed, were there at daybreak, who had journeyed more than seven miles! Before the sun made his appearance, the whole scene looked more like a fair than anything else. Acquaintances shook hands in true highland style; brother met brother, and sister sister; while laughter and all manner of country news and gossip were so freely indulged in, that a person could hardly hear what he himself said. Some of them spoke tolerable English, others spoke Gaelic, while a third party spoke Scotch, very quaint in the phraseology and broad in the pronunciation.
Meantime crowds were eagerly pressing forward to get a tasting of the well before the sun should come in sight; for, once he made his appearance, there was no good to be derived from drinking of it. Some drank out of dishes, while others preferred stooping on their knees and hands to convey the water directly to their mouths, Those who adopted this latter mode of drinking had sometimes to submit to the inconvenience of being plunged in over head and ears by their companions. This practice was tried, however, once or twice by strangers, and gave rise to a quarrel, which did not end till some blows had been freely exchanged.
The sun was now shooting up his first rays, when all eyes were directed to the top of the brae, attracted by a man coming in great haste, whom all recognised as Jock Forsyth, a very honest and pious, but eccentric individual. Scores of voices shouted,’ You are too late, Jock: the sun is rising. Surely you have slept in this morning.' The new-comer, a middle-aged man, with a droll squint, perspiring profusely, and out of breath, pressed nevertheless through the crowd, and stopped not till he reached the well. Then, muttering a few inaudible words, he stooped on his knees, bent down, and took a large draught. He then rose up and said: 'O Lord! thou knowest that weel would it be for me this day an' I had stooped my knees and my heart before thee in spirit and in truth as often as I have stoopet them afore this well. But we maun keep the customs of our fathers.' So he stepped aside among the rest, and dedicated his offering to the briar-bush, which by this time could hardly be seen through the number of shreds which covered it.
Thus ended the singular scene. Year after year the crowds going to Craigach are perceptibly lessening in numbers. J.S.
The Black Isle Memories Project in 2010 – see previous reference – relates an interview with Hermione Protheroe:
“Yes, up to the Den, up to the Den and then we didn't go to Castletown, we went on to the next fork, which was one road going to the Drum and the other one going to Benetsfield and we'd go along there and cross over the fence, down the fields and we would come to the bay and there, there was Craigach wishing well where we hung out cloots and wished for whatever we wanted. And, eh, all the way up of course we'd be looking for birds' nests - it was a great thing - there were lots of hedges along there and sometimes we would take a picnic. And it was a very peaceful little bay that, because I know, not so long ago, someone had, a young chap - I mean he was old when he died - but when he was young, had many happy days there so he had his ashes scattered there, but it was a lovely peaceful place and I do believe that people still go there. And then of course, across the road from Benetsfield, between the Drum and Benetsfield, we would look up and see this Giant's Staff and I honestly don't know, I don't think we ever went up to it to see what it was”.
This "clootie" well is still visited by local people, particularly on the first Sunday in May, according to local knowledge. However, a storm in January toppled the tree just above it on the bank, the roots of which had previously been compressing the stones of the well. As a result of this tree fall, the well is now completely disrupted with the root ball of the tree partially obstructing the outflow of the spring water. The well, or more correctly now spring, water emerges under the tree stump in several places. The landowner is aware of the well's destruction and may effect a repair.
Location
267930.00
853180.00
27700
57.5493774
-4.2085094
Submitted photographs
Image
Date
Caption
User
27/04/2022
20220424 Craigie Well, showing the remains of the stones constituting the well
rolandsj
27/04/2022
20220424 Craigie Well, the well is deep within the root ball, looking NW
rolandsj
27/04/2022
20220424 Craigie Well, the fallen tree, from above, looking S
rolandsj
27/04/2022
20220424 Craigie Well - the tree fallen over the spring, looking W
rolandsj
09/01/2014
Craigach Well, Munlochy Bay
rolandsj
Submitted updates
Update id
Date
User
3792
27/04/2022
rolandsj
Tidal state
Low
Site located?
Yes
Proximity to coast edge
>50m
Other threats
Major threat has been a tree falling over just above it.
Access
accessible - difficult terrain
Local knowledge
is well visited
Description
This "clootie" well is still visited by local people, particularly on the first Sunday in May, according to local knowledge. However, a storm in January toppled the tree just above it on the bank, the roots of which had previously been compressing the stones of the well. As a result of this tree fall, the well is now completely disrupted with the root ball of the tree partially obstructing the outflow of the spring water. The well, or more correctly now spring, water emerges under the tree stump in several places. The landowner is aware of the well's destruction and may effect a repair.
Await landowner's promised repair.
1527
09/01/2014
rolandsj
Tidal state
Mid
Site located?
Yes
Proximity to coast edge
11-50m
Coastally eroding?
not eroding; accreting
Threats
structural damage/decay
Visibility above ground
Highly visible (substantial remains)
Access
accessible - difficult terrain
Local knowledge
is well visited; has local associations/history
Description
An historic "Clootie" well, pre-dating the now much more famous Clootie Well at Munlochy.
Visited with members of North of Scotland Archaeological Society on 9th January 2014. Photo attached.
The well is set into the side of a bank, about 50 metres above the HTM. It is surrounded by dressed stones and there is evidence of stone lining deep within the depths of the well. Fresh and a few fading “clooties” attached to top of well show it is still frequented although now quite difficult to get to. The stones of the well surround are collapsing, particularly under the weight of the roots of an adjacent tree. Local information is that the well flows all year round.
There is a particularly long and detailed account of a visit to the well in CHAMBERS’ BOOK OF DAYS – A Miscellany of Popular Antiquities in Connection with the Calendar including anecdote, biography, curiosities and literature and oddities of human life and character. 1869. (See: http://www.thebookofdays.com/index.html)
This Yearbook has an entry on May 15th as follows:
First Sunday Morning Of May At Craigie Well, Blackisle Of Ross
Among the many relics of superstition still extant in the Highlands of Scotland, one of the most remarkable is the veneration paid to certain wells, which are supposed to possess eminent virtues as charms against disease, witchcraft, fairies, and the like, when visited at stated times, and under what are considered favourable auspices.
Craigie Well is situated in a nook of the parish of Avoch, which juts out to the south, and runs along the north shore of the Munlochy bay. The well is situated within a few yards of high-water mark. It springs out between two crags or boulders of trap rock, and immediately behind it the ground, thickly covered with furze, rises very abruptly to the height of about sixty feet. Probably the name of the well is suggested by the numerous masses of the same loose rock which are seen to protrude in so many places here and there through the gorse and broom which grow round about. There is a large briar bush growing quite near the two masses of rock mentioned, which is literally covered with small threads and patches of cloth, intended as offerings to the well. None, indeed, will dare go there on the day prescribed without bringing an offering, for such would be considered an insult to the 'healing waters!'
For more than a week before the morning appointed for going upon this strange pilgrimage, there is scarcely a word heard among farm servants within five miles of the spot, but, among the English speaking people, 'Art thee no ganging to Craigack wall, to get thour health secured another year? ' and, among the Gaelic speaking population, ' Dol gu topar Chreckack?'
Instigated more by curiosity than anything else, I determined to pay this well a visit, to see how the pilgrims passed the Sunday morning there. I arrived about an hour before sunrise; but long before crowds of lads and lasses from all quarters were fast pouring in. Some, indeed, were there at daybreak, who had journeyed more than seven miles! Before the sun made his appearance, the whole scene looked more like a fair than anything else. Acquaintances shook hands in true highland style; brother met brother, and sister sister; while laughter and all manner of country news and gossip were so freely indulged in, that a person could hardly hear what he himself said. Some of them spoke tolerable English, others spoke Gaelic, while a third party spoke Scotch, very quaint in the phraseology and broad in the pronunciation.
Meantime crowds were eagerly pressing forward to get a tasting of the well before the sun should come in sight; for, once he made his appearance, there was no good to be derived from drinking of it. Some drank out of dishes, while others preferred stooping on their knees and hands to convey the water directly to their mouths, Those who adopted this latter mode of drinking had sometimes to submit to the inconvenience of being plunged in over head and ears by their companions. This practice was tried, however, once or twice by strangers, and gave rise to a quarrel, which did not end till some blows had been freely exchanged.
The sun was now shooting up his first rays, when all eyes were directed to the top of the brae, attracted by a man coming in great haste, whom all recognised as Jock Forsyth, a very honest and pious, but eccentric individual. Scores of voices shouted,’ You are too late, Jock: the sun is rising. Surely you have slept in this morning.' The new-comer, a middle-aged man, with a droll squint, perspiring profusely, and out of breath, pressed nevertheless through the crowd, and stopped not till he reached the well. Then, muttering a few inaudible words, he stooped on his knees, bent down, and took a large draught. He then rose up and said: 'O Lord! thou knowest that weel would it be for me this day an' I had stooped my knees and my heart before thee in spirit and in truth as often as I have stoopet them afore this well. But we maun keep the customs of our fathers.' So he stepped aside among the rest, and dedicated his offering to the briar-bush, which by this time could hardly be seen through the number of shreds which covered it.
Thus ended the singular scene. Year after year the crowds going to Craigach are perceptibly lessening in numbers. J.S.
The Black Isle Memories Project in 2010 – see previous reference – relates an interview with Hermione Protheroe:
“Yes, up to the Den, up to the Den and then we didn't go to Castletown, we went on to the next fork, which was one road going to the Drum and the other one going to Benetsfield and we'd go along there and cross over the fence, down the fields and we would come to the bay and there, there was Craigach wishing well where we hung out cloots and wished for whatever we wanted. And, eh, all the way up of course we'd be looking for birds' nests - it was a great thing - there were lots of hedges along there and sometimes we would take a picnic. And it was a very peaceful little bay that, because I know, not so long ago, someone had, a young chap - I mean he was old when he died - but when he was young, had many happy days there so he had his ashes scattered there, but it was a lovely peaceful place and I do believe that people still go there. And then of course, across the road from Benetsfield, between the Drum and Benetsfield, we would look up and see this Giant's Staff and I honestly don't know, I don't think we ever went up to it to see what it was”.
