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Holy well

St Fillan's Pool

Strathfillan, near Crianlarich

A pool where people were dipped to cure madness, then tied up overnight.

For centuries, people thought to be mentally ill were brought to St Fillan's Pool in the River Fillan. They were dipped three times, then taken to the ruined priory nearby and left tied up overnight, with St Fillan's bell placed on their head.

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When
Medieval to 1800s
Where
56.4000, -4.6700
Group
Holy wells & springs

Visiting

The West Highland Way passes the pool and priory ruins near Tyndrum.

Cover of The Ledger of Lost Britain by Cale Mills
Read the full story in the book

The Ledger of Lost Britain

The Romans arrived in AD 43. For most people that is where the history of Britain begins. But by the time the legions landed, people had already been living on these islands for thousands of years. They had hunted, farmed, mined flint, dragged stones across the country, raised a hill by hand, and buried their dead in great tombs. They left no written words. What they left was the ground itself. Every place in this book can be visited, or has been dug up, or is in a museum.

Buy on AmazonAll books by Cale Mills

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