If you are planning a conservation or restoration project and want expert guidance, reach out to start the conversation.
St Bernard’s Well is an 18th-century neoclassical well house on the Water of Leith, built to celebrate a mineral spring once famed for its “healing” waters.
Designed in 1789 by Alexander Nasmyth and sheltering a statue of Hygeia, St Bernard’s Well is a rare Edinburgh landmark whose exposed riverside setting leaves its stonework and decorative details vulnerable to weathering. Conservation formed part of Edinburgh’s Twelve Monuments Project, led by Edinburgh World Heritage, to safeguard key public monuments.
The project scope included securing the roof finial, carrying out stonework repairs and lime-mortar repointing, conserving stucco and cement ornament, repairing mosaic work, and restoring the pump mechanism—targeted interventions aimed at stabilising the structure and preserving original fabric.
St Bernard’s Well is a distinctive piece of Enlightenment-era civic heritage, and its fine surfaces and decorative elements are the first to be lost to water ingress and decay. Restoring it protects an irreplaceable public landmark and helps keep it legible, safe, and cared for long-term.
If you are planning a conservation or restoration project and want expert guidance, reach out to start the conversation.
