OS1/10/44/125

Continued entries/extra info

[Page:] 125,
Parish of Sanquhar. -- Sheet 6-10- Trace No. [Number] 3,

[Various modes:]
(contd.) [continued]

[Descriptive Remarks:]
many a devotee who had faith in the
virtue of its consecrated waters and
many a holy requiem would be chanted
under the shade of the scented hawthorn,
or the palmy willow that loves to guard
the fountains and the brooks - It
was related by the old people that the
maidens of Sanquhar used to resort on
May-day to St. [Saint] Bride's Well for the pur-
pose of drinking its limpid waters, &
it is further stated that each presented
nine [underlined] smooth stones as an offering to
the saint. The coincidence here is
Remarkable between the nine virgins [both words underlined] of
St. [Saint] Bride, and the nine stones [both words underlined] presented
by the maidens [underlined] on May-day; and if
they had been asked the meaning of the
ceremony, they, perhaps, could have as-
-signed no other reason than merely an-
-cient custom, It is obvious, however,
that it must have originated in com-
-memoration of the nine Companions of
the saint, and for the pious purpose
also of doing honour to the venerable
saint herself. This fountain, however,
which for ages had welled out its pure
waters, is now hidden from the view
under the line of the railway which
passes directly over it. Till the last
generation, the well of St: [Saint] Bride was
surrounded with stately trees, the rem-
-nant of an ancient forest called
the Waldtrees a name not uncommon
in this district"
There is still a spring at the spot marked on trace,

[Page is signed:]
Thomas Matheson CA [Civilian Assistant]

Transcriber's notes

This is the second of two continuation pages for the Descriptive Remarks regarding ST BRIDE'S WELL.