Irvine Express and North Ayrshire Post. — 1885-06-19 (Irvine, Strathclyde, Scotland)

THE GALLOWS WELL.  One by one the old landmarks of the town are disappearing, and as each is removed the associations connected with it are generally brought to mind. This week has seen the old Gallows Well closed up, and unless some stone is set up to mark the spot, it will scarcely ever be mentioned. When the Well was first used no one knows, but in all likelihood before it was made a Well from which water could be drawn, it would be a natural spring similar to what at present is in the Gotffields. It seems that at first it was cradled and formed into a round Well, with steps leading down to it from two .parts, and was used, not so much for the benefit of the washing house, as by the inhabitants of the Townend who carried water from it for washing at home. It was put into a state of repair by the Council in the time of Dean of Guild Henderson, and was then covered with wood. Since the introduction of the Gravitation Water into the town, it had become of no value, and as it was a source of danger it was decided lately to fill it up. The Well is supposed by some to mark the spot where criminals were executed, hut such was not the case. Till about the year 1816, the Moor extended from Castle Street, westward, and was chiefly a track of sand 1 hillocks, similar to what is on the Ardeer side of the river, and these were chiefly covered by whin and broom. Several of them were levelled when the Academy was built in 1814, and those betwixt the Academy and Jenny's Burn from 1817 onwards. Whilst the Well did not mark the site of the Gallows, yet it was situated at the foot of the hillock on which the Gallows was erected. This hillock or kuowe was at the foot of Heathfield garden and was amongst the first levelled after the Academy was built, and it may here be mentioned that on the site on which Heathfield is -built, a Windmill stood. That part of the Moor betwixt the Academy and Jenny's Burn is named the Gallows-knowes from the fact that all the executions took place there. The last execution took place about the middle of last century, the person executed being a woman named Jean Swan, who was convicted of child murder. It seems that her body was handed to Dr. Cumming of Milgarholm, for Anatomical purposes and who had the skeleton hung on wires. It passed through various handsi and latter came into the possession of the late Mr Cowan, who kept it in what was called the dungeon of the Academy. A story is told regarding the execution of two women and a man, which is said to have taken place a short time before Swan was hanged. The three were standing on the Gallows about to be executed when a white dove alighted on the beam above their heads. The crowd took this as a sign that they were innocent, and the hangman took the same view, and refused to proceed with his work. He was however obliged to fulfil his contract by the threat that if he did not execute the culprits he would be hanged. This threat had its desired effect. Such is the story. Now that the landmark is away, one which dwells in the minds of many whose associations with the Academy are still fresh in their memory, who connect the Well, Jenny's Burn, and the Wee Plum, with their School days. Since then the first of these has gone, it is to be hoped that the suggestion which has been made, of a small stone being put against the Academy wall, with an inscription to mark the spot, will be carried out.