Lesser-known historic Thurso site set for revamp thanks to community group’s efforts
Some overdue TLC is being shown towards a historic site in the centre of Thurso that doesn’t register on the radar of many local people, never mind visitors.
For centuries the Meadow Well served as the town’s main water supply and was a popular gathering place.
The hand-operated pump can still be seen within the surrounding circular rubble well house which was erected in the early 19th century.
A group of community-minded volunteers are behind the plans to carry out stonework repairs and to better promote the feature building, which sits in Manson’s Lane, just off Traill Street.
The last refurbishment on it was carried out by Thurso Rotary Club in 1981.
Thurso Town Centre Initiative, a sub-group of Thurso Community Council, aims to have the first of its planned three phases completed by the summer.
Spokesperson Corinne Nicklin said it is to hire a stonemason to reinforce the boundary wall immediately behind the building.
“It is badly needing pointing,” she said. “Parts of it are crumbling and it needs to be stabilised.”
Future phases include plans to reinstate the flagstone area which used to surround the well and embed on them images reflecting its rich history. These could feature the fisherwomen who used to congregate and sell their produce there and its reputed one-time use as a place of worship.
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The group also intends to improve the lighting inside the building and replace its lock.
Mrs Nicklin said her group has tried without success to establish who owns the Meadow Well. Neither has it been able to identify any body which takes responsibility for its upkeep.
She said: “It is such an interesting building and so important in the history of Thurso.
“Speaking to local shopkeepers, they say it remains quite a tourist draw with visitors stopping to take photos of it.”
The building is believed to have been completed in 1823, with the well continuing to serve as the town’s source of drinking water until it was replaced by Loch Calder in the mid 1870s. It continued in use for a further half-century to fill water carts.
So far, the project has secured £775 from the community council; £400 from Highland Council’s discretionary fund; £2300 from Halsary Wind Farm community benefit fund; and £2300 from Cairn Housing Association.
The group is meanwhile continuing its initiative to install large, high quality, scenic photos in the windows of vacant shops in the town.
It has also secured the services of a community payback team to refurbish public benches in the town centre. “It’s made a great difference,” said Mrs Nicklin.
She welcomed any suggestion from members of the public to help spruce up the town centre.