Artesian Well and Water Supply

Reports, memoranda, extracts from Board Minutes, results of chemical analysis of water samples, diagrams of water supply, correspondence relating to the Artesian Well, 1882-1935; material concerning water and drainage facilities at Brownhall School, 1900-1934; and a reprinted article about the radioactivity of the well waters, 1933.

1882-1935

1 box

The Board of Trustees and Directors began looking into possibility of an artesian water supply at Crichton Royal Institution in 1888 due to the existence of various wells on the estate, and invited several companies to investigate and submit quotes. Boring began near the Laundry but was halted and moved to the lower Rosehall ground near the River Nith. The first Artesian Well bore was completed in 1890 yielding a water supply of 90 gallons per minutes from a two and a half inch bore at a depth of 452 feet, with the work being carried out by Thomas Bros., Dunfermline. The water was analysed and found to be, 'thoroughly satisfactory for dietetic and domestic purposes', and provided a supply to Crichton Royal Institution. A reservoir was built at Hillhead to receive and store the water and an engine purchased. In 1896 a larger reservoir was constructed at Maidenbower, the highest point of the estate, and another engine purchased. A second, larger bore, starting at ten inches and reducing to eight inches, was sunk in 1931 near the existing bore to a depth of 161 feet and yielding 125 gallons of water per minute. Further chemical analysis was carried out and the water from the second bore was found to have the same properties beneficial for dietetic and domestic use and both well waters were also tested for radioactive properties. In 1931 the combined flow from both bores averaged at around 200 gallons per minute. Various commercial companies were established at the Artesian Well entering into rental agreements with the NHS Dumfries and Galloway in the 1990s, including an ice-making plant and bottled mineral water companies.

Minute Books, DGH1/2/1/1/20 and DGH1/2/1/1/21 and Board Minutes and Special Reports - Dr C. C. Easterbrook, DGH1/2/1/6/5 and DGH1/2/1/6/6.

Enquiries for reproduction for commercial purposes should be directed to the Archivist, Dumfries and Galloway Archives and Local Studies

The papers are available at Dumfries and Galloway Archives subject to conditions of UK Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and NHS Records Management Code of Practice 2012. Subject to these restrictions, this material is being digitised by the University of Glasgow as part of a Wellcome Trust funded project. Material that is digitised will be accessed freely online through the Wellcome Library catalogue.