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| The Waterloo Well | |
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The Waterloo Well, St Leonards Street This image from the 1980s shows the Waterloo Well after it was moved from nearby Parkside Street This area was originally the site of St Leonards Rail Yards and, as part of local redevelopment, the paved and walled area around the monument was created. Since this photograph was taken the major part of the car park has been transformed into good quality housing. |
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by permission of Edinvar Housing Ltd.) |
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Memorial Water The Waterloo Well was provided for the local citizens not only as a source of good clean water but also as a memorial to the Battle of Waterloo. This decisive battle was fought on the 18th June 1815 when a French army of 70,000 faced an allied (British, German, Dutch) army of the same size under the Duke of Wellington. The French were soundly beaten and this outcome finally brought an end to Napoleon's career. Shortly after this, Napoleon abdicated and was exiled to St Helena. |
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The Dry well The well no longer acts as a source of fresh water but simply remains as a reminder to an important historical event. However it provides a home for several species of moss that live on its ledges and in the cracks between its stonework. The image on the right is of capsules of the moss Bryum capillare growing on a ledge of the monument. |
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Weather Effects Summer heat and Winter snows are gradually eroding the fabric of the well and it would definitely benefit from some refurbishment and preservation treatment. Such refurbishment
would however spell doom for the mosses that have managed to find a
place to flourish on the stony surfaces. |
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A Sister Well? Not far from the Waterloo Well, in East cross Causeway, stands a well of similar style but there is little information about its origin. This well has two inscriptions carved into the faces of the 'pyramid' "J C 1797" 0n the East face and "May 3rd 1787" on the West face |
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