Building record MAB5044 - BURGHEAD WELL

Well, comprising a subterranean rectangular chamber cut out of rock which lies within the Pictish fort at Burghead (NJ16NW0001).

Well, comprising a subterranean rectangular chamber cut out of rock which lies within the Pictish fort at Burghead (NJ16NW0001). The floor is bordered by a ledge with rounded corners. A flight of steps lead down to chamber. The well is fed by a spring. On diagonally opposite corners are a semi-circular pedestal and a sunken basin. The well was reconstructed in the early 19th Century. The original is date uncertain but possibly early Christian. Class I and III symbol stones were found when the well was cleaned out, along with a possible Celtic stone face, and possibly one incised with a bull (see also NJ16NW0005). The bull stone ECMS 1 (Allen and Anderson's numbering for the Burghead stones) was said to have come from the well: Rhind (1839) notes a slab with a bull rudely carved on it found when the well was cleared out. Other sources state that ECMS 1 was found at the fort ramparts. A Celtic head is recorded as ECMS 15: it may be the head (reported to have been from the well), which was brought into Inverness Museum for identification in the early 1990s. An archaeological watching brief was carried out by Kirkdale Archaeology in January 2007 during excavation of a small trench near the well to allow access to the south external wall of a nearby 19th century building for repointing work. No finds or features of archaeological significance were recorded.

RHIND, W, 1839, SKETCHES OF MORAY, 66-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1520.

STUART, J, 1856, SCULPTURED STONES OF SCOTLAND, 138,No2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1800.

McDONALD, J, 1861, PSAS 4(1860-1) 321-69, 352, SKETCH (Bibliographic reference). SAB1185.

ORDNANCE SURVEY, 1871, Ordnance Name Book, No9(1870) 19 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1360.

YOUNG, HW, 1890, THE ANCIENT BATH AT BURGHEAD WITH REMARKS ON ITS ORIGIN. PSAS 24(1890) 147-157, 147-56 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2132.

YOUNG, HW, 1893, PSAS 27(1892-3) 86-91, 89-90 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2135.

STRACHET, 1911, MEMOIRS OF A HIGHLAND LADY, 100-1 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1799.

CHILDE, VG, 1954, ANCIENT MONUMENTS OF SCOTLAND, 102 (Bibliographic reference). SAB224.

MOW, 1962, A.M'S SCOT., 28 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1204.

SDD, 1968, BURGHEAD WELL, LEAFLET (Bibliographic reference). SAB1624.

HOGG, AHA, 1976, HILLFORTS, 197,PLAN (Bibliographic reference). SAB728.

FEACHEM, R, 1977, GUIDE TO PREHISTORIC SCOTLAND, 139 (Bibliographic reference). SAB505.

CLOSE-BROOKS, J, 1982, DARK AGE SCULPTURE (Bibliographic reference). SAB281.

KIRKDALE ARCHAEOLOGY, 2007, BURGHEAD WELL: ARCHAEOLOGICAL MONITORING, JANUARY 2007, WB report (Bibliographic reference). SAB1046.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2008, DISCOVERY & EXCAVATION SCOTLAND, p.131-2 (S Hogg) (Bibliographic reference). SAB4029.

Jul 9 1991 , KY 13-36, KY 13-36 (Ground Photograph). SAB33863.

Jul 9 1991 , KZ 31-37, KZ 31-37 (Ground Photograph). SAB33864.

Jul 9 1991 , NH 21-36, NH 21-36 (Ground Photograph). SAB33430.

Jul 9 1991 , NI 14-36, NI 14-36 (Ground Photograph). SAB33431.

Nov 1 1985 , FE 26-31, FE 26-31 (Ground Photograph). SAB30096.

Record last edited

May 4 2023 3:36PM