A romatic spot in Edinburgh: St. Bernard's Well at the Water of Leith

[image credit: StartAgain]

St. Bernard’s changed hands several times over the years. In the late 1780s the well was purchased by Lord Gardenstone, a Court of Sessions judge who felt the waters had aided him. Gardenstone commissioned Alexander Naismyth to construct a pump house and Grecian folly to illuminate the well.

A Greek Goddess In Edinburgh: The Statue Of Hygeia, St. Bernard’s Well

A statue of Hygeia, the Greek goddess of health, became a centerpiece for the well-house in 1791.

The beautiful statue of Hygeia over St. Bernard's Well, Edinburgh

[image credit: Nestor M]

In the 1790s Sir Henry Raeburn purchased the bulk of the St. Bernard estate, only to gradually resell it in portions. In 1812 George Lauder, an ancestor of entertainer Sir Harry Lauder, purchased the well itself, along with a good-sized portion of the land surrounding it. Publisher William Nelson was the last private owner, buying the well in 1884. Upon his death his trustees presented St. Bernard’s Well to the city of Edinburgh. Thomas Bonnar restored the well house and D.W. Stevenson carved a new statue of Hygeia.

Today St. Bernard’s Well is maintained by volunteers from the City Council. It is open to the public on Sundays throughout the year.

The Stockbridge crossing the water of Leith at Stockbridge, Edinburgh

The architecture and notable buildings of Stockbridge are largely the work of the painter Henry Raeburn, who owned the estates which adjoined the original village. He contracted much of the construction work throughout the area in the 19th century, brought on the architect James Milne to help him design elegant yet practical buildings which have retained their beauty for over two hundred years.
[image credit contagiousmemes]

Stockbridge: Health, Sport, Cheese & Charity

St. Bernard's Well on the Water of Leith at Stockbridge

Stockbridge is home to St. Bernard’s well, a natural mineral water well which feeds into the Water of Leith. It has been hailed for centuries for it’s purity and curative powers, and during the 18th and 19th centuries it was much visited by nobility and gentry looking for healing and relaxation in the country. Stockbridge is also known for sport, particularly rugby. In fact, the first international rugby championship was held in Stockbridge in 1871. Stockbridge is also home to a number of specialty food shops, most notably several specialty cheese shops. It also has a number of charity shops, which are known for the unusually high quality of their merchandise and the revenue they bring in to their respective charities.

[image credit sindändùne]

Stockbridge Community & Rubber Ducks

Ducks launched from the Stockbridge in the annual Stockbridge duck race

Stockbridge has a close knit and friendly local community which is very open to tourists. They are dedicated to acts of charity and good work, and Stockbridge is home to much of Edinburgh’s charity organizations. The most famous charity event is the Stockbridge Duck Race. In this race, numbered rubber ducks are released into the Water of Lieth, with those which arrive at the finish line first winning large cash prizes for their respective charities. Thousands of ducks are released each year, and families go out to see the ducks and cheer on the ones they sponsor.
[image credit DrZito]