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The Modern Antiquarian Forum » Teampuill Chaon » Scottish Wells |
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NerdyBlair 3 posts |
Oct 19, 2022, 23:00
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Hi! I just joined and I haven't used a forum in many years, so I apologize if I do things wrong or if this is not the right type of post for here. I have recently been researching some sacred wells in Scotland, and have come across some that had "sacred fish" seen as living guardians of the wells, but I can't find any modern information on most of the wells. It could be they are not around anymore, but thought I would see if anyone knows. I am in Canada (sadly) so I can't go search for myself. So far, the only one I have dug up modern information on is Loch Sheanta (which had sacred trout and woodland that no one would harm). I know this might sound like a strange subject, but I love folklore, as well as the fact that these ones possibly hint to pagan traditions. I have a long list of quotes of places with folklore in case anyone wants me to share them. ???? 1. Tobar Bhan This one was located in Glen Elg, and had one sacred trout. "Tobar Bhan, or the White Well, from which a burn flows. In olden times the natives used to go to this well to be cured of their ailments. Near the well they gathered water-cress, and also the herb called " flower of the three mountains," for medicinal purposes. In this well there was once a sacred trout. "The Peat-Fire Flame: Folk-Tales and Traditions of the Highlands and Islands by Alasdair Alpin MacGregor (1937) 2. Tobar na Breac Translates to well of trout, and had one trout. Is there a chance this one could have been renamed to Tobar na h-Annait? That is the only one I can find information on. "Then, in the south of Skye is the sacred well called by a Gaelic name meaning the Well of the Trout. Many centuries ago it contained one solitary trout, which the natives were very careful not to injure in any way; and, though they often caught it in their pails by mistake, they always replaced it in the well with extreme care and diligence." The Peat-Fire Flame: Folk-Tales and Traditions of the Highlands and Islands by Alasdair Alpin MacGregor (1937) "I saw a little Well in Kilbride in the South of Skie, with one trout only in it ; the Natives are very tender of it, and tho they often chance to catch it in their wooden Pales, they are very careful to preserve It from being destroyed ; it has been been there for many Years." A description of the Western Islands of Scotland by Martin Martin (1703) 3. Well of Kilmore This one is near a church in Kilmore, Lorne, and had two black fish. "In a well near the church of Kilmore, in Lorne, were two fishes held in much respect in the seventeenth century, and called by the people of the district, Easg Seant, i.e., holie fishes." Darker Superstitions of Scotland by John Graham Dalyell (1834) "In many of the holy wells of Scotland a pair of mystical fishes were said to have their abode. In such a well near the Church of Kilmore, in Lorne, two black fishes were still to be seen in the seventeenth century, and were said to have existed there for generations. The natives called them casg saint, or “holy fishes’." The magic arts in Celtic Britain by Spence, Lewis, 1874
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moss 2897 posts |
Oct 21, 2022, 10:01
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Hi, I see no one is answering. This could be due to the fact that Celtic folklore is not part of the remit of this forum but if you were to look at the front page you will see 'Latest folklore'. Maybe you will find some answers there. Good luck...
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NerdyBlair 3 posts |
Oct 23, 2022, 17:17
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Alright, I apologize, then! Thank you for letting me know ????
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NerdyBlair 3 posts |
Oct 23, 2022, 17:18
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oops, those ??? are supposed to be an emoji. Sorry again haha
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thesweetcheat 6216 posts |
Oct 24, 2022, 21:06
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This is great stuff, thanks for sharing and welcome to TMA. Although there is a healthy dose of scepticism about whether a lot of UK "holy wells" fit in the remit of TMA (which is essentially limited to sites with a pre-Roman date) due to the age of the well-heads and constructed well chambers, many of them are almost certainly older springs and outflows that have been turned into wells later. Personally I like seeing them on here, especially if they have some interesting folklore associated with them. You can add folklore to existing sites via the "add folklore" option in the drop-down on the site pages. Goffik is yer man for wells, although he doesn't post here very often now.
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goffik 3926 posts |
Oct 27, 2022, 12:17
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Hello! I'm very much of the same mind as thesweetcheat, in that I always enjoy seeing wells pop up here. They're always welcome in the forums, surely, as their antiquity will be all part of the conversation. Water sources are often pretty darned old, even if the well houses were built a while after. I remember visiting St Cubert's Well, on the Holywell Bay golf course. The well house was restored in the 1930s from a suspected 15th century enclosure, but the actual wellhead is a very well worn and extremely ancient looking rock. And on the whole I think rocks can be fairly old. ;) I do actually have a vague recollection of a well which apparently contained a talking trout, but for the life of me I can't remember any details! I have a feeling it was in Ireland, and having done a little (unsuccessful) search for that particular story, I did find a lot of references to trout in wells and springs over there. I'll rack what's left of my brain to find the story I'm thinking of. I have several reference books so bear with me. But in the meantime, I stumbled across these, in both Ireland and Scotland, and at least one of which you have also mentioned: https://www.libraryireland.com/AncientLegendsSuperstitions/Sacred-Trout.php https://www.truehighlands.com/holy-wells-scotland/#:~:text=The%20guardian%20of%20this%20well%20is%20a%20sacred%20trout https://voicesfromthedawn.com/tullaghan-hill-holy-well/#:~:text=Another%20legend%20concerns%20the%20pair%20of%20enchanted%20trout%2C%20not%20visible%20to%20everyone%2C%20which%20appear%20primarily%20for%20the%20faithful https://www.caughtbytheriver.net/2012/06/the-pigeon-hole-holy-wells-and-sacred-trout-charles-rangeley-wilson/#:~:text=Many%2C%20I%20was%20delighted%20to%20discover%2C%20are%20inhabited%20by%20sacred%20fish%2C%20invariably%20salmon%20or%20trout. https://holywellscorkandkerry.com/on-wells-6-blessed-fish/ This should keep you going for now, at least. I do love me a bit of water-based folklore. It's been a while since I've read up on these though! G x
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