Firhill Well – The Gibberie Wallie
The Gibberie Wallie or Firhill Well was originally in a Rural Location at Firhill. It was on the edge of a Mound in a Lane (Firhill Road off Froghall Lane) leading to the Powis Estate Hermitage that was surrounded by the King’s College Wynd and probably has been named after this Fir-clad mound which lay near the Snow Kirk Burial Ground. It is known to have been in use prior to the year 1721. It was moved to its location in the Sunnybank Sports Ground on Sunnybank Road in 1937. The Well lies to the rear of a Bowling Green in a lovely setting. However, it is not accessible as the Gate is usually locked. It is a lovely Horseshoe shape which would have allowed people to sit normally on the upper tier and have a fair old ‘Cleck’ or ‘Gibberie’ while they waited their turn to collect slow pouring Water for Domestic use.
Fit i’ye gibberin’ about noo – ye gibberin’ eediot?
A more favoured theory is the regular sale of Gingerbread at the Well – allegedly referred to locally as Gibberie not Gingerbreed.
The Firhill Well once sprang Iron-rich water from the Base of the Little Firhill (later removed by Sand Quarrying in 1860’s – now the location of the University’s Heating Plant) to the West of College Bounds. In 1721 John Forbes drank some of the Spring Water and found it helped his Gallstones.
The area around the Spring was known as the ‘Bog of Sunnyside’, but the water was claimed by local Farmers also to have cured various Ailments (including asthma, conjunctivitis & stomach pains). In 1798, thanks to Public Donations, a Stone Fountain was built to collect the Springwater, and the Firhill Road was laid for easier access from Froghall Lane. The Spring’s popularity greatly increased both from Pilgrims for its healing powers, and as a meeting place for the young. Wooden seats supplemented the semi-circular Stone Benching on either side of the Well-Head, and the consumption of the water had to be rationed. Between 1815 & 1830 Baubie Courage (infamous for the methods used to enforce her Monopoly, and for breaking the Sabbath) sold Gingerbread at the Spring, which consequently became known as the Gibberie Wallie.
– whaur aul’ Baubie Courage eest tae sell her Gibberie.
Hermitage: A Summer House, built on an ‘unnatural’ Hillock planted with Wood, by the grandfather of the Proprietor Hugh Fraser Leslie, about the year 1760. A Paper Mill stood in the Hollow between Bankhead Station & Waterton House & was known as Waterton or the Bagery Mill, because Bags were made at it. It was Demolished c.1885 & its Large Dam was filled up, so that a level Field now hides all traces of this Hive of Industry. The curious Hermitage Mound at the Firhill is the Earth excavated at the Forming of the Dam.
A Painting of Old Aberdon from the South-west showing Kings College, Hermitage Mound with the Powis Hermitage with St Machars Cathedral beyond.
Doric Columns 