Bow Well

Bow Well sits where Victoria Street joins the Grassmarket in Edinburgh. Built in 1764, the well head supplied drinking water from the reservoir at Castle Hill. For 150 years, well heads like the Bow Well were the only way residents could access fresh drinking water from the Pentland Hills.

Edinburgh’s well heads fell out of use as undergound systems of pipes began to be installed to deliver water direct to buildings. This infrastructure took a long time to be created, so many relied on the wells long after modern systems were invented.

Well heads not only supplied essential fresh water, they were also places to meet, exchange news, trade goods and watch the world go by. People-watching in the Grassmarket is still a popular pastime today!