The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
St. Catherine's Well
View Larger MapDescription of institution: Located south of Liberton, a parish south of Edinburgh. Mackaile describes an oily substance in the well:
In the Paroch of Libberton (the Church whereof lyeth two miles south-ward from Edinburgh) there is a Well at the Chappel of St. Catharine, which is distant from the Church, about a quarter of a mile, and is situat toward the South-west) whose profundity equalleth the length of a Pike, and is alwaies replet with water; and at the bottom of it there remaineth a great quantity of black Oyl, in some veins of the earth. (117)Print Sources linked to this location: Subject of discourse or work of art - Moffet-well, or, A topographico-spagyricall description of the minerall wells, at Moffet in Annandale of Scotland translated, and much enlarged, by the author Matthew Mackaile ... ; as also, The oyly-well, or, A topographico-spagyricall description of the oyly-well, at St. Catharines Chappel in the paroch of Libberton; to these is subjoyned, A character of Mr. Culpeper and his writings, by the same author.