St Catherine’s Well, Liberton, Edinburgh

‍A natural spring bubbling with mineral oil is an obvious curiosity, a site made holy by legend associated with St Margaret of Scotland

Highlights

• Miracle well linked to St Catherine

Were it not for the peculiar substance produced by this holy well, it would be best ignored in its current condition. But it is one of very few ‘treacle wells,’ the treacle being an oily black substance that floats up and coats the wellhouse interior.

The well chamber is in the grounds of The Balm Well restaurant, but it was neglected when I visited and full of rubbish behind a wrecked metal grille. You can still see the tarry black substance inside the chamber, which smells vaguely of bitumen. Shale beds underneath this part of Edinburgh are the likely source of the oil.

The story behind this holy source, also known as the Balm Well, is based on a shrine in the Orthodox monastery on Mount Sinai in Egypt. The body of St Catherine, who was entombed at the monastery by angels, flows with a miraculous healing oil.

A phial of this oil was owned by St Margaret, Queen of Scotland in the 11th century. According to later tradition, it was spilt on the ground at Liberton, and the holy well miraculously appeared. A well chapel was built nearby but has disappeared.

Directions

Toby Carvery Liberton, 39–41 Howden Hall Road, Liberton, Edinburgh EH16 6PG

W3W: system.pinch.silent GPS: 55.9029N 3.1640W

The holy well is in the private grounds of the Toby Carvery Liberton. It was closed when I visited, but the well is easy to find from the car park. It is behind bushes beyond the outdoor seating area. Walk directly away from the building through the middle of the outdoor tables and the well is on your left. You might want to ask permission – or stay for a meal – if the restaurant is open.