Wallace's Well facts for kids
Wallace's Well is a very old well in Glasgow, Scotland. It is also called Auchinleck Well. Today, it is a special monument and a place people like to visit. You can find it near Robroyston. People say that William Wallace, a famous Scottish hero, drank from this well many times. He might have even had a drink here just before he was captured by English soldiers led by Sir John Menteith.
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The Story of Wallace's Well
The first time Wallace's Well was mentioned was in a long poem. This poem was written by a Scottish poet known as Blind Harry. His poem, The Wallace, tells the story of William Wallace.
The well is very close to a barn where Wallace was captured. This happened on August 3, 1305. Wallace was traveling through a place called 'Rab or Ralph Rae's Toun', which we now know as Robroyston. He was likely on his way to Glasgow to meet the Bishop of Glasgow, Robert Wishart. Wallace needed money to keep fighting for Scotland's freedom.
Some stories say that the owner of the farm, Rab or Ralph Rae, might have told the English where Wallace was. This led to Wallace being captured by Sir John Menteith. After his capture, Wallace was taken to Dumbarton Castle and then to London. There, he faced a trial and was executed.
Another old story, written by an English writer named Piers Langtoft, says that Wallace's own servant, Jack Short, betrayed him. This story claims Jack Short helped Sir John capture Wallace while he was sleeping. Some say Jack Short did this for revenge because Wallace had killed his brother. However, other sources suggest it might have been Ralph Haliburton, one of Wallace's own men, who spied on him.
A loyal friend and follower of Wallace, named Kerlie, was killed near the well. Some people used to believe that the well was the exact spot where Wallace was taken prisoner. The name 'Auchinleck Well' comes from a nearby farm, not from a supporter of Wallace who was also called Auchinleck.
Other Wells Linked to Wallace
There are other wells in Scotland named after William Wallace.
- Near Elcho Castle in Perth and Kinross, there's another Wallace's Well. It's said that Wallace loved to drink water from this well when he stayed at the castle.
- Dunfermline also has a Wallace's Well. People say Wallace hid there for a short time from English soldiers after the Battle of Falkirk. In 1303, he visited Dunfermline with his mother to pray at the shrine of St Margaret.
- In Ayr, you can find Wallace's Heel Well. This well got its name from a story about Wallace hiding in the Leglen Woods near Auchencruive.
What Wallace's Well Looks Like Today
Old photos show that Wallace's Well once had a hand pump. This means it was a regular source of water for people living nearby. Today (in 2018), the well is very shallow and partly muddy. A drawing from 1923 shows the well looking much like it does now (in 2019). Back then, a low metal railing stood at the entrance instead of a stone wall.
The well has changed a lot over the years. Its current look is from around 1911. Before that, there was a stone with a message about the important year 1305. The well is built into a curved space in a simple stone wall next to the road. The Gadburn stream flows in front of it. A pink stone above the well now says 'Wallace's Well'.
The well was officially listed as a historic site in 1970. However, this listing was removed in 2001. This happened because some people believe the well's connection to William Wallace is not very old. The well site was even at risk from a plan to build over 800 new houses. In June 2011, the area around Wallace's Well was restored and new grass was laid.
Wallace's Cross Monument
The building where William Wallace was captured was taken down in the 1800s. On August 4, 1900, a cross was put up in its place. This barn or cottage in Robroyston was said to have lasted until about 1826. You could see the building's foundations for some time after that. They were located east of the current monument.
Some roof timbers from the old building were saved. Sir Walter Scott, a famous writer, used them to make a chair. You can see this chair at Abbotsford House.
The tall pink granite cross was carved by sculptors from Edinburgh. It looks like St Martin's cross on Iona. The monument stands high on a granite base and is surrounded by simple iron railings. Miss Emmeline McKerlie, a direct descendant of Kerlie (Wallace's loyal friend), officially revealed the cross. Around a thousand people came to the opening. The local council was in charge of looking after the monument.
John B. Calder helped with building the foundations, putting up the railings, and making the boundary wall. The wall around the Memorial Cross was rebuilt later. A special plaque was also added by David R. Ross. There is a bench at the site now. It is a double-seater version of a bench that supposedly belonged to Wallace. That original bench is now at Balnagowan Castle in Ross-shire.
