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EDINEURGHKS‘ WELLS

iDOLLAR= roars

Interesting Relics of Olden Water Supply. (By MARIE W. STUART in the Weekly Scotsman)

A few generations ago, before houses had the luxury of water laid on. the public well was a so- cial centre where young and old of every rank met to exchange gossip and jest. Servant lasses sent by their mistresses, balms filling kettles for their mothers and the ubiquitous cudie primed with the latest scandals, all had a few moments to spare as they lingered round the old city wells. . Many of these quaint relics sur- vive today in excellent preserva- tion, though somewhat saddened in appearance, as if they felt the neglect into which they have fall- on after so busy and useful a life.

In the High Street we find sev- oral interesting examples that have not shared the fate of the Bowhead Well in the Lawnmarket. Close to the site of the old Gal- lows at the head of Llberton Wynd s very solid old well could surely toll many gruesome tales of pub- Ilo executions. Farther down the street a very hale and hearty vot- eran is still in business, the only one in the Royal Mile still in use. This well at the Old Assembly Close has an honourable record. for, in the disastrous fire of i824 which left the tall lands round Parliament Square blackened shells, it supplied the firemen with water.

Opposite Niddry Street the old well still stands close to the former site of Allan Ramsay's shop, “at ‘the sign of the Mercury opposite to Niddry‘s Wynd.”

Netherbow Well

A few yards down the street the Netherbow or Fountain Well is situated outside John Knows house. This is the richest in his- torical associations, For one thing the pedestal was made up of grave-stones from the old church- yard of St Giles that covered the area of Parliament Square. This well is referred to in the evidence given by one of Bothwell’: ac- complices in Darnleys murder, when he declared that after the blowing-up of Kirk c‘ Field some of the conspirators returned into the city by Biackfriars‘ Wynd, others by “the cloiss which is un- der the Endymylels Well."

so important was this well that it gave its name‘ to a land nearby which was known as “The mun- tain." The future Duchess of Gor- don and her sisters, "the three romps of Monreith," when they lived in I-iyndfordﬂs Close during their girlhood, were often sent to fetch water from the Fountain Well.

But perhaps the most dramatic figure whose memory haunts is old structure is that 0f the lttlﬁ girl whose mother sent her out with a kettle to fetch water for the tea one November afternoon in 1806. As she. ran back into 'I‘weed- dale Court she stumbled over the body of Begbie, the British Linen Bank's messenger. who had been

murdered in the few minutes she had spent at the we!l. The mys- identity was never satisfactorily established must have passed her or at least

terlous c

been seen

A few steps off the High Street another old well can be seen in the Tolbboth Wynd beside the Canongate Tcibooth, near to which the modern 19th century fountain outside the Canongatc Churchyard looks very much out of keeping with the ancient Cross. beside it. Passing on. we find the last of the Royal Mile wells standing against the wall of Qucensberry House.

DWING T0 THE INCLEMENT WEATHER WE HAVE DECIDED T0 GIVE OUR cus- TOMERS THE BENEFIT 0E DOLLAR DAY PRICES MONDAY AND TUESDAY, DEC. 2nd AND 3rd.

rimihal whose

by her.

The Finest Examples

To find the most beautiful speci- men of these pubic wellswe must retrace our steps to the

Grass-

market, where, at what was once the foot of the West Bow, we dis- cover the elaborate and dignified well designed by Robert Mylne, the King's mason, in 1681. Another cxampie of these solid- ly-bullt erections can be seen be- side Solicitors Buildings in the Cowgate, nearly opposite the Tail- ors‘ Hall. This is the one referred to by old Edinburgh writers as the well at the foot of Parliament Stairs, that must have flowed when the slope was covered with gardens, or, earlier still, with grass and whlns. ‘This whole neighbour- hood is rich in springs. now used by breweries, and many of them

wells, Edinburgh was springs which were hallowed shrines to which pilgrims came for blessing and healing, but these call for more mention than space per- mits in this article.

live outside the narrow compass of the City Wall. _'I‘he district of Eut- crn Calton was known as the Cralgwell from a well so named standing to the east of Leith Wynd Port. It was said that the brewers congregated round this part also. Though the Craig Well and Neth- er Craig Well were the most im- portant, others in their neighbour- hood were the Grenside Well, the Herds Well, and the Btlffing Well. Even this supply was not suffi- cient, and in I152 another. W88 built in St. Ninisxfs Row.

Interesting sidelights on 18th century life are given in the orders that this well was not to be open to the public before 7 o'clock in the morning, since washer-women were evidently in the habit of ar- riving early with large tubs and draining the well nearly dry. From Saturday night to Monday morn- ing the well was shut altogether, and Church ‘Rocords show the horror with which Kirk Sessions regarded any drawing of wntor from wells on the Sabbath. During the hours of service the "Search- ers" went round spying busily to find anyone thus profsning the day. The needs of the Oalton dis-

trlct continued to increase. and in 1782 the old Fountain Well in tho High Street was called into service and a pips laid from it to Caiton.

the

Apart from these utilitarian rich in

Ancient Well at the Castle Of all Edinburgh wells, sacred.

are of great depth.

In April 1933 building extensions in connection with Watt College laid bare not only an old well but also waterpipes made from hollowed The water in this 30 feet well was

perfectly clear and uncontamin-

ated.

In the Engineers‘ Laboratory of

the College there is another

very soft, crystal-clear water with a total depth of over two hundred feet. A neighbouring brewery, also, can boast of one having a. depth

of 209 feet.

Tc show the importance of these springs it is interesting to note that when one brewery removed it kept possession of its well, and had the water pumped to

premises.

Several of these old wells were discovered accidentally, and in the case of one near Brodie! Close where o. fllgsione suddenly gave way in 1828, nearly causing the death of a workman. _ In East Crosscauseway a well with a graceful pinnacle top bear- ing the dale i797 stands in a com- fortable corner beside one of the new tenements. Not far away, at the entrance to st. Leonard's Coal Depot, another is adorned with a

plaque having the inscription “Waterloo 1815" on it. Gallon Springs

The Calton district was rich in springs which were found very

necessary when people began to

the

the Heriot-

tree-trunks.

its new _

foot

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public, or private, the most vital must have been those belonging to the castle. The old Fore Wsll near the Half Moon Battery has been considered "probably one of the most interesting in Britain," and its extreme antiquity is unques- tionable. ft has a depth of 110 feet. the upper 20 being of mason-work erected by order of tho Regent Morton. the rest being hswn out of solid rock.

During the long siege when Klrlraldy of Grange Wu hol the Castle as the forlorn hops o MiaryQueen of Scots, then l pris- oner in England, this well was of little service, for the enemy‘: ar- tillery pounded away to such pur- pose that it was "shocked with the ruines of ‘the Castell walls."

Another water-supply was the Back Draw Well on the Hawkhill, near the site of tho new barrach. Unfortunately it was of little uao in a siege as its water was said to diminish through the effect of gun-fire. While Kirkn-ldy held the Castle his men "were woont to have a pint a dale for everie souldier" out of a well which was not known to tho enemy. This benefit was lost when they had to abandon the Spur, l. triangular fortification on the site of the present Esplanade.

_,8t. Margaret's Well

At the foot of the Castle Rock and on the shore o! the Nor’ Loch the Well House Tower protected a spring the waters cf which were drawn up by means of a crane on the bastion above. Close by the ruins of this ancient building a fragment of the old Town Wall can still be soon, and also the ro-called St. Margaret's Well which is de- clared to be intimate] cted with Castle history for centuries. Alas for romance, it is a modern

" , depending for its supply on tho Edinburgh Water Trust. since the old spring that trickled into the Nor’ Inch has long ago

genuine "lt. Margaret's Fountain within tho King's Cordon.” which

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‘Trade Agreement Brings Benefits To Nﬂd.

II‘. JOHN'S. Nfld, Nov. 80-(0. PJ-Opportunities for increased export trade an Icon h!!! as a rc- sult of tbo now Canada-United States tnds agreement.

Bandits of the agreement are extended t0 Newfoundland through the most-flvored-naticn treaty be- tween this colony and the Unit/ed Status. , Halibut, salmon, smells, herring and smoked fish are expected to go to the American markets in in- creased ““ , and a tremend- ous spurt is‘ looked for in exports of blueberries. ,

Although Newfoundland‘ is said to live by fish alone, blueberries keep a tidy little industry in opera- tion, and the reduction of 10 Mr‘ cent in the dutylrnpcscd by the United Btotos is considered an im-

priccs for the DIOR!!-

Thls you the blueberry industry yielded more than $200,000 to pick- ers. box manufacturers and truck- men. Home fishermen returned to their homes in Conception Bay af- ter- thc summer's work off Labra- dor and learned their wives and children had made more money on the blueberry bar-runs in two months than they had all season co the fishing grounds.

The benefits of the agrceme rt to Newfoundland would have been much greater i! ccdfish-fresh, pic- kled or dried-mad been included in the reductions. Most of the pro- ducts on which concessions have been made are not sold lo the United states now but a substan- tial American demand for New- foundland fresh salmon, herring and halibut is expected to develop.

At present producers of fresh sal- mon arc securing barely enough to provide for the requirements of the British market. Newfoundland’: success in selling a large quantity to the United States must there- for, depend largely on her ability to increase production without de- pleting resources, according to authorities here.

In the case of halibut there should be a much better opportun-

B-Ilai

ity for rapid development. Halibut abound on certain parls of the New foundland coast but the fishery is pursued chiefly by a few West Coast fishermen and most of the catch is sold to Canada.

smelts, fresh herring and smok- ed flsh undoubtedly will go forward in larger quantities but these as well as the other fish listed in the agreement are minor- products when compared with cod, the value cf which Newfoundland is endeavor- ing to increase by an orderly grad- ing and. marketing system.

WOMEN NEED EQUALITY

IN ALL PIIABES 0F LIFE COLUMBUS, 0., Nov. Sil-Fem- lnistl trained suns today for an opening battle in a campaign for a new amendment to the consti- tution of the United 8tates-to guarantee women equal rights with men in industry and business.

The women, many of them one- time prominent “suffragettesﬂ will hold a conference of the national woman's party hers Saturday and Sunday. Mrs. Helen Hunt West of Jacksonville, Fla" predicted 100 would attend.

Mrs. West claimed large support in Congress for the proposed amendment. which would garantee “inch and women equal YIKIILS throughout the United States and gory place subject to its Jurisdic-

on."

“There are more than 1,000 state laws," Mrs- West declared, “which discriminate against woman.”

Mrs. West cited laws regulating working hours far women. such laws, she said, protect woman from unfavorable conditions and un- scrupulous employers bu. place them at an economic disadvantage with men.

"It's not enough that women can vote." she said. "They need equal- ity in all phases of life."

Klrkaldy’: surrender became in- ‘evitable.

5o the old wells had their part in national and domestic doings, and even modern civilisation may sometimes have to return to Nature when severe drought tests the man-contrived water suoply of the great city. Such indeed was the case last century during a pro- longeddraught when the back garden of 28 Charlotte Square was opened to the public so that water could be drawn from its old well. Pump handle and bucket may crcak and clatter no more, but who shall say the ancient weil's day of usefulness is putt

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(Canadian Prcu) SAIMBRO, N. 8., Nov. 30—A fish- ermenb church for generations, St. James United Church has the nautical touch down to walls painted with cod liver oil as it celebrates its 125th anniversary in this community of flsherfolk. Founded in 1810, it has served first the Methodists and then in the United Church of’ Canada. Preachers and congregations have come and gone, but the tiny church has stood. v Though the going wu some- times hard in that century and a quarior, it struck no serious snag until last YOU". Then, with the church half covered, the paint gave out. There wu no money. and it looked as though the building were to remain mottled until funds were raised- .But the fishermen were not stumped. Someone found some rod ochre. Others‘ turned over cod liver oil they were saving for market. Mixed. the two were lust the thing. And the pointing wont on. ‘ Now, the church spin point; m. to the sky from Oravlnrd Point Proudly as ever, beacon for the fishermen u the

Grateful for the lessons, the fishermen are getting up a new schema to free the church of fin_ anclal worries when psintiu time rolls around again. They pan to donate one of their lobster pots apiece to the church. and to give it all revenue from that pot.

noonsn srou. runny nsnmo m N. a warns

(Canldlan Press)

SAINT JOHN, N. n., Nov, 1a.. Having practically hlited hats cod and haddock ﬁshing since September 1, record numbers of dosiish continue to drive other fish from their normal feeding Irounds on the New Brunswicr aids of tho Bay of Fundy.

"A curtain number cf dogfish alwlys some around but this is the first you I new known them I4 hilt III almost complete stop to thl blv Iilhihl." said one wlwls- sale fish merchant. v

"Th! Illult has been." remarked 1 retailer. aunt I an n a muc no! 1' nrvbcrtion of on Scots fish than I

do.

have received practically no fish

from local sources lately." Ill

cited the ctoirionca of a loam

Harbor dealer who spent $15 to

load m» r out. . They

caught four haddock, seven hm,

:3: ctged pntgmnamsw“ dogfish, rs

11.12 at tho - ~ ‘h. w“ "Tbs --

m 6

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the wholesaler. "To a certain ex. imi- thev have affected runmgI ldverwly on the Nova Bcotia side, too. I believe, but not u seriously l! B10118 the New Brunswick coast. I recall that on the Nova Scotia‘ morn we used to expect only about "M" M ¢°lfilb-from

you (not charge) until

IrhojL-JMAIYI HQIME ONE PRICE-THE CASH pruce BALANCE IN IO EQUAL

i1.

Dec 2

llec l0

NVENIENT

THLY PAYMENTS — NO INTEREST

8TORED FREE UNTIL XMAS

around the last of July to the middle of August."

1n previous years attempts were made by, the government to cope with the situation by means of "xv-I rluction" plants when the dogfish; c0u‘d be converted into fertilizer» or fish meal, but the-enterprises: were "eluded as unsuccessful. "

lim Arc a Few o

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f the Special iiaiuos

"film! It McIIOWAIPS Kllmulr I November 25th to Dec. 24th.

Mel's Lumber Rubbers 81.89 I‘

_ i: ﬂoral lidollca’: Ilbbm m» c "‘“'<»;-,;-_§-"Pf'.‘!'...frrf;..... ,3,» m “Egbgiunwnil nut p. . m0 m m. ,0. .40. m hull.