Robert The Bruce and the Legend of the Well

Back in November, 1979, the community of Cambusbarron found and 'restored' Bruce's Well in the village - which in 1314 was in the grounds of Cambusbarron Chapel.

A strong local tradition maintains that Bruce came to the Chapel on the eve of Bannockburn, to take the sacrament there and to drink from its well - a holy well, with supposed special powers. it was then called 'Christis Well'. He also ordered his religious advisor, Abbot Maurice of Inchaffray, to take some water from the Well, which was sprinkled onto the battlefield the following morning, just before fighting commenced.

Thereafter, the Well was often referred to as 'Bruce's Well', and much visited, even in the century after the Reformation when such visits were strongly disapproved of by local presbyteries, by, for example, mothers with ill or handicapped children, seeking a miraculous cure for their children's ailments.

On St Andrew's Day 1979, the Well area was refurbished. Sadly in the years that followed, the Well was vandalised. But now, work has just finished on the latest refurbishment and will officially be opened within the next few months.- view large