Hand-Cut Well

Photographed by Tyree Smith, May 11, 2019

1. Hand-Cut Well Marker

Inscription. Our hand-cut well measures 7.4 feet in diameter and has a depth of 74 feet. It is carved from solid limestone and is reminiscent of the Queen's Staircase sculpted between 1793 and 1794 by "slaves from solid rock with axes and other sharp hand tools". It is assumed that the well was also sculpted by slaves between the inception of the Buena Vista House in 1789 and the enactment of the British Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. More than 4,000 cubic feet of rock was displaced during its construction and contains 2 feet of fresh water.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1793.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 25° 4.479′ N, 77° 20.946′ W. Marker was in Nassau, New Providence. It could be reached from Augusta Street south of Delancy Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 17 Delancy Street, Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it was on the Atlantic Ocean,

in North America,

in the Western Hemisphere,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 11 kilometers of this location, measured as the crow flies: John Watling's Distillery (here, next to this marker); The Bahamas Memorial Cenotaph (approx. 0.9 kilometers away); Sir George Gamblin Memorial (approx. 0.9 kilometers away); The Bahamas Grant (approx. 0.9 kilometers away); Fort Fincastle (approx. 1.1 kilometers away); The Queen’s Staircase (approx. 1.2 kilometers away); The Caves (approx. 10.2 kilometers away).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker.

Hand-Cut Well and Marker image. Click for full size.

April 1, 2023

2. Hand-Cut Well and Marker

Buena Vista House, site of the Hand-Cut Well and Marker image. Click for full size.

April 1, 2023

3. Buena Vista House, site of the Hand-Cut Well and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2019. This page has been viewed 344 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 19, 2019. 2, 3. submitted on May 26, 2023, by Diane Murphy of Saint Cloud, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.