The Nine Maidens’ Well

23 April · Strathmartine, near Dundee, Angus

Lore and belief

Near Dundee is the Nine Maidens’ Well, with places nearby called Pittempton, Baldragon, Strathmartine and Martinstane. The story went that a dragon devoured nine maidens at the well, and Martin, the lover of one of them, struck it with a club at Strathmartine, followed it as it dragged itself through a bog, and killed it at Martinstane. Chambers thought the story had been made up to explain the place names, and gives the dragon’s dying rhyme.

I was tempit (tempted) at Pittempton, Draiglit (draggled) at Baldragon, Stricken at Strikemartin, And killed at Martinstane.

From Chambers's Book of Days, vol. 1, pp. 541-542. Read the original

Get a copy: Amazon · Bookshop.org · AbeBooks

We may earn a small commission if you buy through these links.

Also on this day

Questions and comments