Well Hoose Traditional Cache
Scottiedogz: Now removed and archived as some recent changes in the area
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Bridge of Allan is a Victorian Spa Town. This is the location of the original Well House which provided the Spa water which made the town famous.
"Water down the drain" . The spring water still issues below here but these days it goes straight into the mains sewers, lower in the town!
It is now hard to believe that the derelict building at GZ in a sorry state was so significant in the development of Bridge of Allan.
This is the Well House that is situated over a shaft leading down to the original copper mines at over a hundred feet below
Robert Abercromby, the local landowner who saw a commercial opportunity in the spa water, had the old copper mine re-opened and removed all the rubbish left by mining. Having analysed the water from 4 springs, he constructed ducting to collect it.
The entrance shaft below what is now the Well House (Now derelict building nearby) was lined with brick and the water diverted into underground holding troughs.
The shaft at the Well House had ladders going down the "30 fathoms" to the bottom where the 1000 gallons a day were brought to the surface by pumps. These works were carried out by a company called Stevenson and Bald. It’s believed that they were part of the Stevenson family famed for their lighthouse construction and even better known for another family member, the author Robert Louis Stevenson, who was known to have stayed in Bridge of Allan. The works were finished in 1826.
The first house as part of the modernisation of Bridge of Allan was built in 1837, the Spa increasing popularity of Bridge of Allan
In 1920 the manual pumps at the Well House were replaced by an electric one. Originally the water was channelled through earthenware pipes, these were later replaced by lead.
The waters were apparently very purgative. The temperature of the water in the
collecting cistern was 49 F.
No doubt together with the added lead from the piping the water would be considered bad for your health today!!
Unfortunately the Well House has fallen into disrepair after almost 200 years of use. A Heritage Group has been formed to try and save it.
Lets hope so.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Onfr bs fyvire ovepu gerr haqre jbbq oruvaq fgneg bs uvture jnyy - ernpu bire sebz sbbgcngu
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