Building record MAB41412 - KING'S WELL, DRUMOAK

Well depicted on historic maps, a spring at which King Robert the Bruce (1274 - 1329) is supposed to have drunk.

Well depicted on historic maps, a spring at which King Robert the Bruce (1274 - 1329) is supposed to have drunk. The earliest record appears to be within a royal charter of King David II of Scotland, Scone 17th November 1358, which confirms an earlier charter of King Robert de Brus, Berwick on Tweed 28th March 1323. Both concern the award of land to Alexander Burnard for his assistance in creating the royal hunting park of Drum. The 1358 charter in detailing the boundaries of the land in question refers to the ‘King's Well running into the Loch of Drum ‘. It is depicted on the Robert Gordon map of circa 1636-52, just to the east of Loch of Drum. The King’s Well is also shown on the John Thomson map of 1822 and the OS 1st and 2nd edition maps. Described in the Aberdeenshire OS Name Books, 1865-1871 volume 26 (OS1/1/26/16) as: 'A small, but powerful spring situated on the farm of Westhill, at the eastern extremity of the Loch of Drum, and a short distance from the margin thereof. By local tradition we are informed that, King Robert, the Bruce who, it seems, frequently hunted in the Forest of Drum, and, as a matter of course, was always foremost in the chase, allayed his thirst at this Spring. Hence the name.'. The well is surrounded by a stone dyke, with granite steps, and is in a copse of mature beech trees.

ORDNANCE SURVEY, 1871, Ordnance Name Book, No26(1865) 16 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1360.

MORRIS, 1982, SCOTTISH HEALING WELLS, 29 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1157.

Record last edited

Jan 29 2025 10:07AM