The legend of the nine maidens well

Tradition ascribes the name of the Parish of Strathmartine to the legend of a man named Martin

who in olden times performed an act of wondrous bravery.

It appears that a worthy farmer who was blessed with nine bonny daughters occupied a farm called Pitempton.

Coming home fatigued from the labours of the field one summer evening he commanded his oldest daughter to

bring him a draught of cool water from the well.

The daughter obeyed the parental request and proceeded to a neighbouring well where excellent water was to be had.

But as she did not return so soon as her father had expected the second daughter was sent to ascertain the cause of the delay.

The second, like the first did not return.

The third was sent on the same errand and so on until the nine sisters had been sent in quest of each other.

Some time after the departure of the last daughter the farmer became alarmed and went to the well himself.

On coming to the well he was horror stricken to behold his nine unfortunate daughters lying on the sward

weltering in their blood with the loathsome slimy folds of an enormous dragon or serpent twined round their fair bodies.

He stared at the awful spectacle but as the monster was preparing to attack him he retreated and alarmed the whole neighbourhood. In a short time a large crowd of people armed with clubs and hatchets assembled.

Among the crowd was a young man named Martin, the lover of one of the maidens.

He was famed for his great prowess and bravery.

Coming up with the monster as it was making its escape across the Dighty to the hills.

Martin engaged it single-handed with his club.

The crowd pursuing them all cried "Strike Martin!" and the place where his battle occurred was called Strike-Martin now Strath-Martine.

He struck so strongly that he wounded the serpent and following up his advantage he slew the dragon before it had gone two miles from the well.

The spot was afterwards marked by a stone and called Martin's stone.

(There is to this day near the road leading to the Sidlaws at Balkello an upright stone called Martins Stone on which there is a representation of a reptile or dragon the nine maidens well is clearly marked on old maps, but has been covered over in recent times.)

Baldragon Academy opened in August 1997 on the merging of Kirkton High School and Rockwell High School.

Dundee City Council Education committee asked the joint School Board to choose a new name for the school.

Two names were chosen Baldragon and Craigowl. 

The pupils were asked to vote for their preference and the overwhelming choice was... Baldragon Academy.

The Legend of the Nine Maidens is proudly displayed in the school assembly hall.

The art work was originally commisioned by the owners of the Nine Maidens Public House and was disposed of to Brackens Primary School where it hung for a number of years. 

It was obtained by Baldragon soon after the school opened.

Two books we have found with references to the story are:

The Dragon Hunter's Handbook by Joyce Hargreaves ISBN:   published by Granada 1983

Now owned by harper Collins and out of print?

The Quest for Nine Maidens by Stuart McHardy ISBN: 0 946487 66 9 published by Luath Press Ltd