St Colm's Well, Belhelvie

Dedication: Saint Columba

Location: Belhelvie

Coordinates: 57.26767N, -2.05254W

Grid reference: NJ969196

Heritage designation: none

St Columba, a 6th century Irish missionary who is largely responsible for the spread of Celtic Christianity in Scotland, was almost certainly Scotland's most popular saint. Although he probably did not visit Belhelvie, as his mission appears to have mainly been focused in the west of Scotland, Columba is the parish's patron saint, and the ruined church opposite which the well stands seems to have been the original parish church. Water from St Columba's Well was certainly used for baptisms in this church when it was in use.

Almost nothing is known about the history of St Colm's Well itself, as so little has ever been recorded about it. After much searching, I have, however, been able to find a reference to the site in a book named Churches of Buchan and Notes by the Way, which was written by Nicholas Kenneth McLeod in 1899:

There seem to have been three chapels in the parish [of Belhelvie] - Millden, Ardo, Muirton (Meadowbank). The burial ground around one of them is still to be seen, while the east wall of the lately dismantled parish church was part of a pre-Reformation Church. Near it may still be seen St. Columba's well, and in all probability this was the original parish church.

If the Canmore database is to be believed, then the old basin that once stood at the well was rather recently turned into a bird bath, which now sits somewhere in the garden of Belhelvie Manse, meaning that the current structure is relatively new. The well has supplied the Manse with water ever since the late 18th century.

Access:

The well is located at the side of a quiet public road.