Well Cave

Up to the end of the 19th century, young people from East Wemyss visited the cave on Handsell Monday (the first Monday after January 12th) to drink water from St Margaret's Well that used to bubble up at the back of the cave. Songs were sung and gifts exchanged.

Like many holy well traditions, this is almost certainly the Christianisation of very ancient practice.

There are no surviving Pictish carvings in the Well Cave, but its walls are covered in graffiti dating from the mid-19th century to the present day.

Unlike all the other known Wemyss Caves, the Well Cave is not open to the outside and so is profoundly dark and silent.

W4D-WC-001

W4D-WC-001
Personal names


W4D-WC-002

W4D-WC-002
Medieval-style cross


The Tradition of Handsel Monday
Remembering the use of the Well Cave for celebration on the first Monday of the year.