Category: Holy Wells

When water first emerges from the Earth they’re known as ’springs’ of water; those with stone troughs or basins into which the water falls are ‘wells.’ I don’t see much difference misself! And if water was of any importance to our ancestors (anyone who thinks it wasn’t is probably a bit slow…), such a clinical definition is of little importance. Many water-sites possessed great healing or therapeutic properties, as evidenced by chemical analyses (mainly in Victorian times, when a bittova craze on these wells was in vogue), aswell as folk-tradition, plus vast numbers of subjective encounters. To ancient societies – indeed, to myself – water is our blood, or the blood of the Earth. Treating this liquid as little more than a ‘commodity’, aswell as polluting it, should be a criminal offence – simple as!

St. John’s Well, Winkburn, Nottinghamshire

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Holy Well:  OS Grid Reference – SK 70051 59725

Also Known as:

  1. Holy Well

Archaeology & History

Holy Well on 1884 OS-map

Found on the south-side of the stream a few hundred yards northeast of the aptly-named ‘Holywell Farm’ and highlighted on the early Ordnance Survey maps of the region, this once important sacred site is today, according to local folk, little more than an overgrown muddy patch, visited by very few and hard to see underfoot.  It was described, albeit briefly in Leonard Jacks’ (1882) beautiful work, where he told that, “About a mile from the house is to be seen a holy well, a place of interest, which is undoubtedly connected with the past history of the place.”

In medieval times, the manor of Winkburn was the seat of the religious Order of the Knights Hospitallers, otherwise known as the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, to whom Bob Morrell (1988) professed this well to have been dedicated.  He described there being a small structure around the water source, wondering whether it may have been a bath of sorts to convey water to the nearby house, but remains of this can no longer be seen.  It would seem that a good ground survey of the site is required, at the end of Winter when all the vegetation has fallen back, to see if the waters can be recovered and the Holy Well brought back to life for local people.  Fingers crossed! 🙂

Folklore

The water from St. John’s Well was said to be good for sore eyes.  The religious celebration day of St. John is traditionally around June 24, usually overlaying earlier summer solstice celebrations.

References:

  1. Jacks, Leonard, The Great Houses of Nottinghamshire and the County Families, W. & A.S. Bradshaw: Nottingham 1882.
  2. Gover, J.E.B., Mawer, Allen & Stenton, F.M., The Place-Names of Nottinghamshire, Cambridge University Press 1940.
  3. Morrell, Robert, Nottinghamshire Holy Wells and Springs, Nottingham 1988.

Acknowledgements:  Huge thanks for use of the Ordnance Survey map in this site profile, reproduced with the kind permission of the National Library of Scotland. 

© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian

Holy Well, Tuxford, Nottinghamshire

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Holy Well:  OS Grid Reference – SK 7429 7149

Archaeology & History

Holy Well on 1884 OS-map

Highlighted on the early Ordnance Survey map of the region by the appropriately named ‘Holywell Farm’, this once important sacred water source would seem to be little more than a muddy patch nowadays.  Not good.  Its cold waters were reputedly good for curing skin diseases such as scurvy, along with aiding in the affliction of rheumatism.

Local folklore attributed the site to have once fed some Roman baths, but this idea seems to have been a diluted version of it once, historically, supplying some baths a few hundred yards east, albeit in the 19th century and not way way back in Caesar’s days!  Of course, the waters of the well would have been used in ancient times, but we have no archaeology or unbroken traditions telling us such things.  It was last known to be used as a local water supply in the 1920s.  The fact that the spot where it used to run free is still sometimes boggy means that it could be re-animated with a bit of effort from local people.

References:

  1. Morrell, Robert, Nottinghamshire Holy Wells and Springs, Nottingham 1988.

Acknowledgements:  Huge thanks for use of the Ordnance Survey map in this site profile, reproduced with the kind permission of the National Library of Scotland. 

© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian

St. Helen’s Well, Cossall, Nottinghamshire

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Holy Well (lost):  OS Grid Reference – SK 48 42

Also Known as:

  1. St Elena’s Well

Archaeology & History

Cossall and its many wells

Hiding away in the Title Deeds of the Willoughby Family of Wollaton, written around 1280 CE, a somewhat lengthy entry on land ownership around the parish of Cossal, showed there once existed a little-known St. Helen’s Well: long since lost it would seem.  The account, known as the “Quitclaim (of) William son of Adam le Gaoler,” cited the following information:

“Release by William, son of Adam le Gaoler of Nottingham, and Beatrice (his wife) and Agnes (heirs once of Adam de Cossale in Nottingham) to William de Barre and his wife Dionise [Denyse] of all claims to toft and croft with all its appurtenances, with 10 seliones of arable land with appurtenances in various parcels and sites in town and territory of Cossall; the toft and croft lie between land of Dionise on each side; 3 seliones lie together on Brochisale, 2 lie on Elrinstubbe between land of Robert de Marisco and William Baret, 2 lie on Smalethornchis between land of Henry and Robert son of Adam, 2 lie a square furlong ‘quarentelam’of the spring of St. Elena between land of Stacy le Greyne and Nicholas de Marisco and 1 selione lies on le Westfeld between 2 boundaries.”

A few years later in an early 14th Century Feet of Fines there is another mention of the well, which gave a slightly better description of its whereabouts.  It mentions items known as ‘sellions’, which are strips of arable land.  The account told of,

“two selions lying together at St Helen’s Well between the land of the church of St Katherine of Cossale on one side, and the land of the said Eustace on the other side, abutting at one end on the croft that Walter Talpe holds, and at the other end upon the north conduit…”

This indicates that the well was close to the village—perhaps even within the village itself.  On the early Ordnance Survey maps of Cossall, several wells are shown, and any one of them could be the St. Helen’s Well in question.  Does anyone know which one is the forgotten holy well of the village…?

Folklore

St Helen’s feast day is August 18.

References:

  1. Gover, J.E.B., Mawer, Allen & Stenton, F.M., The Place-Names of Nottinghamshire, Cambridge University Press 1940.
  2. Morrell, Robert, Nottinghamshire Holy Wells and Springs, Nottingham 1988.

Acknowledgements:  Huge thanks for use of the Ordnance Survey map in this site profile, reproduced with the kind permission of the National Library of Scotland. 

© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian

Holy Well, Carburton, Nottinghamshire

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Holy Well (lost):  OS Grid Reference – SK 613 746

Also Known as:

  1. Allen Well

Archaeology & History

The sacred holy woodland on the 1885 OS-map

The precise whereabouts of this holy well—in the aptly-named Holywell Wood—is hard to pin down.  It was first recorded in the Dukery Records of 1232 as Holywell Dale and the woodland that owes its name to the site was recorded on the 19th Century Ordnance Survey maps (right).  Bob Morrell (1988) added the site to his survey of Nottinghamshire holy wells, but he was unable to locate it and its position remains elusive.  One account suggested that it marked the line of an ancient boundary—which would place it on the western side of the present woodland.  It’s alternative name, the Allenwell, may suggest a dedication to St. Helen.  I add the site here in the hope that a local antiquarian might be able to locate it.  Please let us know if you re-discover it!

References:

  1. Gover, J.E.B., Mawer, Allen & Stenton, F.M., The Place-Names of Nottinghamshire, Cambridge University Press 1940.
  2. Harte, Jeremy, English Holy Wells – 3 volumes, Heart of Albion press: Wymeswold 2008
  3. Morrell, Robert, Nottinghamshire Holy Wells and Springs, Nottingham 1988.

Acknowledgements:  Huge thanks for use of the Ordnance Survey map in this site profile, reproduced with the kind permission of the National Library of Scotland. 

© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian

Lady Well, Ackworth, West Yorkshire

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Holy Well (lost):  OS Grid Reference – SE 440 176

Archaeology & History

Somewhere close to the aptly-named Ladywell House (now a beauty salon) on the south-side of High Ackworth (just as you’re going into the village on your left) there was once a holy well, seemingly no longer with us.  It was described in Saywell’s (1894) history of the town as one of the “antiquities” in the area.  He told that,

Spring Well – Lady Well?

“This very ancient well is one of the several public wells, which has in recent years somehow become enclosed.  From what it derived its name is not known, but from the fact of its being the oldest, it is not unlikely that it was originally set apart by some religious service, and dedicated to ‘Our Lady’ for the use of the inhabitants of the village.  In pre-reformation times this custom was common, some wells having miraculous powers ascribed to their waters by the superstitious, like the well of St. Keyne, and in modern times, the ‘Holy Wells’ in Ireland; but nothing of the sort attaches to the well of ‘Our Lady’ at Ackworth.”

To the rear of the old cottages was once a ‘Spring Well’, as shown on the 1852 Ordnance Survey map.  It’s possible that this was our Lady Well, dedicated in ancient times to St. Mary.  Does anyone know?  And is it still there?

References:

  1. Saywell, Joseph L., The Parochial History of Ackworth, James Atkinson: Pontefract 1894.

Acknowledgements:  Huge thanks for use of the Ordnance Survey map in this site profile, reproduced with the kind permission of the National Library of Scotland. 

© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian

St. Bride’s Well, Pitlochry, Perthshire

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Holy Well (destroyed):  OS Grid Reference – NN 9397 5770

Archaeology & History

It was more than a hundred years ago that the waters of this sacred well fell back to Earth.  They emerged above the eastern side of the River Tummel, close to the bridge where previous there had been a local ferry at the site known as Port-na-Craig.  The mythic history of the ferry and the holy well went hand-in-hand, according to local tradition.  Its lore was was spelled out by the local author and historian Hugh Mitchell in a speech he gave when a new bridge was opened here in 1913.  He said:

The Well was on the far side of the bridge

“The ferry at Port-na-Craig, though not as old as many ferries in Scotland, bears the respectable antiquity of something like eight hundred years.  It was established by the monks of Coupar Angus when they got a gift of the lands of Fonab, and as Coupar Angus lay on the north side of the river Tummel, they established the ferry in order to have communication.  In those days the ferry boat was made of skins stretched on branches or twigs, so it was somewhat dangerous to cross in, and the monks thought that they would improve the occasion by dedicating the well near the old ferry to St. Bride, so that people, when they ventured across the ferry, might propitiate the saint.  It was customary for people to drop either a small coin or a brass pin into the well.  He was afraid that brass pins rather prevailed, and no doubt, St. Bride, being a lady, would find them more useful.  The well remained until recent times, when it had, unfortunately, to be filled up, on account of being contaminated by neighbouring fields.”

For “fields”, read sewage—for that was the actual reason it was closed.  Mr Mitchell (1923) told as much in his subsequent history of Pitlochry, saying that “sewage was percolating into it.”  John Dixon (1925) echoed the same thing a few years later.

The curative and magickal properties of St Bride’s Well had considerable renown for local people.  Mitchell told that:

“It had a great reputation at one time for cases of lung disease… Pins and coins were dropped into the well as votive offerings, and the bushes above it were hung with rags to call the attention of the saint to the sufferer.”

A few miles north from here, at the back of Blair Castle, an old church is dedicated to St. Bride, whose celebration date is February 1.  “The day was known as Candlemas in the Highlands,” wrote Mrs Banks, saying, in commemoration of the Celtic Brigit, “Feill Bride, the festival of Bride, displaced the festival of Mary.”

References:

  1. Dixon, John H., Pitlochry, Past and Present, L. Mackay: Pitlochry 1925.
  2. MacKay, L., Atholl Illustrated, L. MacKay: Pitlochry 1912.
  3. Mitchell, Hugh, Pitlochry District: Its Topography, Archaeology and History, L. Mackay: Pitlochry 1923.

© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian

Wishing Well, Ecclesall, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

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Sacred Well (lost):  OS Grid Reference – SK 30 84

Archaeology & History

The location of this site has proved troublesome.  Even when Rob Wilson (1991) did his local survey of holy wells he was unable to locate it—but it looks as if it shouldn’t be too troublesome to find, as the area in which it flowed is still very much a mix of open countryside and maintained landscapes.  Described briefly as the “Wishing Well near Whiteley Wood” in Sidney Addy’s (1893) fine work, he makes a rather hopeful attempt to derive the word ‘wishing’ from German mythology, where “one of the names of the god Wuotan or Odin was Wunsch or Wish.” But – well – you just never know…..

In the landscape at Whiteley Wood there is a Priest’s Hill, so if this Well was found there, it may indeed have had an authentic ‘holy’ designation.  But there were a couple of ponds in the area too, which may be fed by this spring.  So, first, we need to find the well!

References:

  1. Addy, Sidney Oldall, The Hall of Waltheof, William Townsend: Sheffield 1893.
  2. Wilson, Rob, Holy Wells and Spas of South Yorkshire, Northern Arts: Sheffield 1991.

© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian

Wishing Well, Castley, Huby, North Yorkshire

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Sacred Well:  OS Grid Reference – SE 2718 4572

Archaeology & History

Castley’s Wishing Well (Bogg 1904)

An important water source for local folk in Castley hamlet in previous centuries, this was one of several so-called ‘Wishing Wells’ above the higher banks of the River Wharfe a few miles from each other.  It’s a title which, to be honest, was afforded the place when its original local name was removed.  It was quite obviously a sacred well in earlier times, as it’s found beneath the slope of Chapel Hill, looking eastwards towards the rising sun, when the waters here (as at countless others) had their greatest remedial or magickal powers.  Tradition told there was once a small chapel above the well itself.  The spring was highlighted on early Ordnance Survey maps, but all that seems left here today is an occasional boggy mass in the trees at the bottom of the sloping hill.

The old folklorist and antiquarian Edmund Bogg (1904) wrote the following about it:

‘Wishing’ Well on 1888 map

“On the terraced bank near the garden, ’neath an overhanging hawthorn, is a beautiful spring of clear sparkling water, which is locally known as Castley ‘wishing-well.’  More than once we have heard the women-folk declare how, in their maidenhood, they loitered down the bank to the well, usually at eventide, when the birds were warbling their vesper song, and placed their offerings there in silence, yet breathing, as it were, the mute longing of their heart’s desire.  It is a natural grotto fit habitation of fairies or the traditional elves.  The bank, in which the well is situated, is known as ‘Snake Bank.’”

References:

  1. Edmund Bogg, Higher Wharfeland, James Miles: Leeds 1904.

Acknowledgements:  Huge thanks for use of the Ordnance Survey map in this site profile, reproduced with the kind permission of the National Library of Scotland. 

© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian

St. Mary’s Well, Inchberry, Moray

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Holy Well:  OS Grid Reference – NJ 3238 5520

Also Known as:

  1. Chapel Well
  2. Lady’s Well
  3. Well of Grace

Getting Here

Site on the 1874 OS-map

On the west-side of the River Spey from Fochabers, follow the road-signs taking you south on the B9015, and near Inchberry is a tiny road on your right (careful not to miss it).  Go along here to the end of the long straight road and turn right, down the track.  When you reach the trees, bear left along the track to St Mary’s, Orton, marked “Private road”. 🙂  Parking is limited to one car only but very quiet.

Archaeology & History

St Mary’s Well, Inchberry (21st Century Pict)

Set in a stunning location next to the river Spey with a magnificent view of Ben Aigan to the south, St Mary’s Holy Well and Pool is easy to find behind the Chapel / Mausoleum wall, dedicated to the Duff Family.  There is a small stone basin in the wall which may have been the Chapel font.  At the time of my visit the weather has been dry and sunny for some time.  The pool below the iron grate has been recently cleared of leaves before my visit, with no standing water but the stones on the bottom of the pool looked damp.  And with the cemetery above and behind the wall, perhaps it was for the better.

It was clear and running, said J.F.S. Gordon (1880) at the end of the 1700s, but when he came to write about it the flow “has ceased for many years, and is now only a feeble, filthy, stagnant Driblet for the use of cattle.”  Pilgrimages were made here on the first Sunday in May, and water collected from the site was kept for a year, in return for an offering (usually a stone or other inanimate object) that enabled the magickal spirit of the well to enact cures.

Folklore

A site described by Watson (1868) as being “long held in superstitious reverence”, the well was said to cure whooping cough, eye problems and joint conditions.  It had thoroughly un-christian shennanigans practised here by local folk, much to the consternation of the usual culprits!  Visited extensively by people from far and wide, Mr & Mrs Morris (1981) told,

(21st Century Pict)

“The visits displeased the Kirk and there were various summonses to the Session for “going supersticiously to a Vell at Speyside” and of persons who “kneillit about the chappell and drank the water.”  The minister at Ruthven reported that a large number had gone to the chapel well “thrie Saturdays before Lambas and thrie efter called the six silie Saturdayes, and that the conventions wer on the night or before day in the morning.”  And “quhairas zierlie about Lambnes, the ignorantes repaired to ane wel at this kirk, called Our Ladie Wel, superstitiouslie, and kneeled about the said kirk, it is reportit that the evil is removed.”  This may be the well associated with the White Witch, Dame Aliset, who cured a fairy child with simples and the well water.”

References:

  1. Bord, Janet, Holy Wells in Britain – A Guide, HOAP: Wymeswold 2008.
  2. Cope, Phil, Holy Wells Scotland, Seren: Bridgend 2015.
  3. Gordon J.F.S., The Book of the Chronicles of Keith, Grange, Ruthven, Cairney and Botriphnie, Robert Forrester: Glasgow 1880.
  4. Longmuir John, Speyside — Its Pictureseque Scenery and Antiquities, Lewis & James Smith: Aberdeen 1860.
  5. Mackintosh, Herbert B., Pilgrimages in Moray, W.R. Walher & Co.: Elgin 1924.
  6. Morris, Ruth & Frank, Scottish Healing Wells, Alethea: Sandy 1982.
  7. Watson, J.& W., Morayshire Described, Russell & Watson: Elgin 1868.

Acknowledgements:  Huge thanks for use of the Ordnance Survey map in this site profile, reproduced with the kind permission of the National Library of Scotland. 

© 21st Century Pict & Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian

Muse Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian

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Healing Well (destroyed):  OS Grid-Reference – NT 2547 7337

Archaeology & History

Muses ‘Well’ on 1852 map

We have the historical detective work of Stuart Harris (1996) to thank for the location and probable meaning behind the name of this long-lost well, that could once be seen along Haymarket, near the heart of the old city. Shown on the 1852 OS map, without name, the site was recorded as a public well “from 1502 onwards,” he wrote — and its name was variably written as muse, muss, meus and mwse, which led him to surmise that it was from the old Scots word “meuse”, or the “well by the stables”; although I cannot find this validated in the established dialect dictionaries and glossaries of William Grant (1934-76) or Simon Taylor (2012).  Their relative definitions tell it to be of a mouse, or a small trackway left by rabbits, hares or rodents, running between hedgeways.  This would mean the ‘Muse Well’ was a variant around a “well by an animal track”, which in earlier centuries were very important to note, as wild animals were indicators of food (amongst other things).

This aside, “the King’s Stables, dating from the 1340s, were of course over 200 yards further west,” he wrote,

“but the convent of the Greyfriars, founded in 1471 in the Cowgatehead only about fifty yards east of the Muse Well, certainly gave lodging to travellers of the more distinguished sort, and although no early record of stables here has come to light, it may be no accident that the only stables recorded in the Valuation Roll of 1635 as being on the south side of Grassmarket were in McIntyre’s Close, which had its entry ten yards east of the Well.”

References:

  1. Grant, William (ed.), The Scottish National Dictionary – 10 volumes, SNDA: Edinburgh 1934-76.
  2. Harris, Stuart, The Place-Names of Edinburgh: Their Origins and History, Gordon Wright: Edinburgh 1996.
  3. Taylor, Simon & Gilbert, Markus, “Elements Glossary”, in The Place-Names of Fife – volume 5, Shaun Tyas: Donington 2012.

© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian