Everything about Burghead Well is mysterious. It’s not known who built it, or when, or why.
One definite fact: Burghead Well is huge
It’s much bigger than a plain water source needs to be. The chamber, carved out of solid rock, is five metres wide. The pool is 1 metre deep and fed by an underground spring.
It could have been part of Burghead Pictish Fort (probably built in the 5th century CE), or it could have come before or after the fort. That’s how little is known.
Today, the well sits behind a locked door in the middle of the village of Burghead. I peered through the bars of that door:
It was too intriguing not to walk back up the hill to the Visitor Centre to obtain the key…
Descending the steps
So, twenty minutes later, I descended the steps to the well. It was a bright and sunny day. And then it wasn’t. As soon as I stepped onto the original rock-hewn steps, everything felt dark and sinister. I stopped, wanting to turn and run back up to the light. And then I made myself go on, as I really wanted to see what it was like in the well chamber.
I’ve visited various underground places over the years – caves and barrows – but none of them have ever felt anything like this to me.
You can see the pause here in the TikTok I made of the experience:
There are various theories as to the original use of the well. It could have been an early site of Christian baptism, a Pagan shrine to water deities, or a place of ritual execution. Maybe archaeologists will uncover answers one day but, for now, Burghead Well remains mysterious.
Historic Scotland page on the well
Historical Fiction
Set in 1st century Scotland, and featuring the cliffs and caves of Cullykhan Bay, SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD includes the battle of Mons Graupius between the Romans and the Caledonian tribes. The book features a neurodivergent main character and some rather complicated romance…
“Ethereal and spellbinding…” Historical Novel Society
See the press release here
Read the article Roman Aberdeenshire features in author’s new book from Grampian Online.
Taking place mainly in a fictional castle, THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR blends an often overlooked period of history, the Scottish witchcraft accusations, in particular the 1597 Aberdeen witchcraft panic, with a love story.
See the press release here
From the Press and Journal: New book by Fraserburgh author highlights horrific extent of witch trials in Scotland
FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE was inspired by the kidnapped children and young people of Aberdeen. The story follows the adventures of Elizabeth Manteith from the castle and her determined efforts to get back home. There’s love. There’s derring-dos on the high seas… And there’s chocolate!
See the publisher’s Press Release here
“Filled with excitement and suspense…” Historical Novel Society
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Inspiration for your next project perhaps?
It’s not in mind for it just now, but you never know!
So evocative. One can just merge into history in these places, and it doesn’t require an enormous amount of imagination. Thank you for posting.
I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
That’s an amazing well, Ailish. Thank you for the information and photos.
It is an interesting place.
It is an interesting place…
I’m positive the well will show up in your next book or two. I love a good mystery.
Well (no pun), stranger things have happened!
What an interesting place. All very curious.
It is rather…
Truly interesting, Ailish. I wonder if the well was not inside the fort to supply water during an attack. Being dug down with stairs, it would be partially protected. If the water is fed by springs, it’s probably pretty pure.
Yes, it is just at the edge of the fort.
Totally different, but that feeling you describe reminded me of entering the souterrian on Bressay., seeing the stonework from so long ago. Alone, because 6ft 3 was far too big
It is amazing seeing such old stonework. And I think the atmosphere of these places is most acutely felt when alone.
It is a bit eerie down there, isn’t it?
It is 🙂