Exploring Scotland’s historic wells for new antibiotics

Author:

Dr Michael Macey is a Senior Lecturer in Microbiology at The Open University.

Scotland’s wells may hold the key to new medicinal discoveries, says Dr Michael Macey, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology at The Open University, in this short blog.

This summer, I’m undertaking a journey across southern and central Scotland as part of a research expedition with The Open University. It’s not your typical field trip - we're be exploring historic mineral wells, places that people have visited for centuries in the hope of finding healing. But instead of drinking the waters, we're studying what lives in the wells.

Why Scotland’s wells are important

Many of Scotland’s historic wells are rich in minerals like iron, sulfur, and calcium. These unusual chemical conditions create challenging environments that only certain microbes can endure.

Bottles and sampling equipment placed on a stone ledge above a sign reading 'The Brow Well visited by the poet Robert Burns July 1796'

That’s what makes these wells so interesting. Microorganisms that live in extreme or unusual conditions often produce unique chemical compounds to help them survive.

Some of these compounds can have powerful properties, including the ability to fight bacteria or fungi. In a world where antibiotic resistance is becoming a serious global problem, this kind of discovery could be incredibly valuable.

A journey through landscape, legend and science

I am embarking on this journey with two colleagues from the OU’s School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences; first-year PhD students Esma Bozlak and Wewerly Fernandes.

Our route takes us from Dumfries and Galloway, through the Scottish Borders, and into central Scotland, stopping at sites that are as rich in history as they are in scientific potential.

We begin at Brow Well (pictured), near Dumfries, where Robert Burns visited in 1796. Its iron-rich waters were once believed to have healing powers, and it’s fascinating to wonder what kind of microbial life might be behind that reputation.

From there, we head to Moffat, where we’ll sample both Moffat Well and Hartfell Spa, a remote upland spring first discovered in 1748. Hartfell is steeped in folklore and has even been linked to the legend of the mythical wizard Merlin, a reminder that these sites sit at the crossroads of science and storytelling.

A well made of stone, surrounded by engraved slabs and brickwork, with inscriptions and a plaque dedicating the site to Robert Burns.

In the Scottish Borders, we’re visiting Tam Lin’s Well, tied to traditional ballads, and nearby Caulks Well, known for its striking lime-rich deposits. Each site offers a slightly different chemical environment, and potentially, a completely different microbial community.

Further north, we’re stopping at Callander’s Red Well, an iron-rich spring with ancient, possibly pagan origins, followed by St Bernard’s Well in Edinburgh, an iconic neoclassical structure built in 1788 and long associated with healing.

Our final destination is the village of Scotlandwell in Kinross, home to a well that dates back to Roman times and medieval hospitals. Known as a healing or holy well, it has drawn visitors for centuries, including King Robert the Bruce, making it a fitting place to end a journey that connects past beliefs with modern science.

What we’re looking for

Although these wells have been known and used for generations, the microbes living in them haven’t been fully studied.

That’s where our work comes in. We’re interested in whether the unique chemistry of these waters has led to equally unique forms of life; and whether those organisms might be producing new, useful compounds.

In other words, we’re asking a simple but powerful question: Could there be a scientific basis behind the healing reputation of these wells?

Once we’ve collected our samples, the next stage happens back in the lab. Using techniques like DNA sequencing and detailed chemical analysis, we’ll identify the microbes present and investigate the compounds they produce.

By linking the biology of these organisms with the chemistry of their environment, we hope to uncover new substances that could one day contribute to medical treatments.

Why this matters now

The need for new antibiotics is urgent. As resistance to existing drugs increases, scientists are looking in new and sometimes unexpected places for solutions. Historic wells - largely unexplored in this way - could be one of those places.

As I undertake this journey, I’m struck by how these wells bring together the past and the future. What people once turned to for healing might still have something to offer us today - just in a different way than they imagined.

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23 June 2026