Healing Wells

Healing wells are defined, nowadays, as having less provenance than so-called holy wells.  This is due entirely to the denigration of water as a sacred substance – which it was in all cultures before the patriarchal religion of christian Industrialism emerged.  So, for the benefit of those who like their judaeo-christian definitions (apologies for those who don’t), here are springs and wells that have lost much of their mythic histories – apart, that is, from their traditions and healing lore. 

  1. Abernathen Well, Kirriemuir, Angus
  2. Abraham’s Well, Baildon, West Yorkshire
  3. Acre Well, Baildon, West Yorkshire
  4. Acton Well, Blanchland, Northumberland
  5. Adam’s Well, Colinton, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  6. Adam’s Well, Old Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire
  7. Adam’s Well, New Monkland, Lanarkshire
  8. Adam’s Well, Peak Forest, Derbyshire
  9. Adam’s Well, Todmorden, West Yorkshire
  10. Ailsa Well, Bingley, West Yorkshire
  11. Airthrey Mineral Wells, Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire
  12. Alders Well, Hawksworth, West Yorkshire
  13. Alum Well, Hexham, Northumberland
  14. Amb Well, Foulridge, Lancashire
  15. An Tiobairt, Kenmore, Perthshire
  16. Arch Well, Harlestone, Northamptonshire
  17. Aristotle’s Well, Oxford, Oxfordshire
  18. Arn Well, Alyth, Perthshire
  19. Arns Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  20. Ash Well, Heaton, Bradford, West Yorkshire
  21. Ash Well, Manningham, Bradford, West Yorkshire – see Holy Ash Well
  22. Ash Well, Rothwell, West Yorkshire
  23. Ashes Well, Whitby, North Yorkshire
  24. Atherton’s Well, Preston, Lancashire
  25. Attack Well, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire
  26. Auchenleck Well, Robroyston – see Wallace’s Well
  27. Avon Well, Naseby, Northamptonshire
  28. Back o’ Brae Well, Easterhouse, Glasgow – see Todd’s Well
  29. Balk Well, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire
  30. Balm Well, Edinburgh – see St. Catherine’s Well
  31. Balsamic Well, Hoxton, London
  32. Bampton Well, York, North Yorkshire
  33. Bank Well, Alyth, Perthshire
  34. Barley Well, East Kilbridge, Lanarkshire
  35. Barrasyett Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  36. Barrel Well, Brechin, Angus
  37. Barrel’s Well, Causewayhead, Stirlingshire
  38. Batties Well, Haughhead, Arbirlot, Angus
  39. Battle Well, Montreathmont Moor, Brechin, Angus
  40. Beggars Gill Well, Grassington, North Yorkshire
  41. Berry Well, Swinton, Masham, North Yorkshire
  42. Bessie Barre’s Well, Culross, Fife
  43. Betty’s Well, Langholm, Dumfriesshire
  44. Billey Well, Grewelthorpe, North Yorkshire
  45. Binns Well, Baildon, West Yorkshire
  46. Birch Well, Boughton AluphKent
  47. Birch Well, Wanstead, Essex
  48. Birnie Well, Slamannan, Stirlingshire
  49. Birkin Well, Hawksworth, West Yorkshire
  50. Birley Spa, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
  51. Black Dike Well, Norwood, North Yorkshire
  52. Black Hill Well, Hebden Moor, North Yorkshire
  53. Black Morrows Well, Kirkcudbright, Kirkcudbrightshire
  54. Black Spring, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  55. Blind Well, Alyth, Perthshire
  56. Blind Well, Blockley, Gloucestershire
  57. Blind Well, Doddington, Northumberland
  58. Blind Well, Kirkton of Largo, Fife
  59. Blind Well, Lanark, Lanarkshire
  60. Blind Well, Sutton-in-Holderness, East Yorkshire
  61. Blond Well, Bannockburn, Stirlingshire
  62. Bluidy Well, Abdie, Fife
  63. Bluidy Well, Newburgh, Fife
  64. Boar Well, Bradford, West Yorkshire
  65. Bodan’s Well, Alyth, Perthshire
  66. Bog Well, Cambusbarron, Stirlingshire
  67. Boiling Springs, Cambusbarron, Stirling, Stirlingshire
  68. Bones Well, Welton, Northamptonshire
  69. Boothdean Spa, Rishworth, West Yorkshire
  70. Bore Well, Bingfield, Northumberland
  71. Botham’s Well, Blubberhouses, North Yorkshire
  72. Bowdler’s Well, Ash-cum-Ridley, Kent
  73. Bower Well, Blairgowrie, Angus
  74. Bowfoot Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  75. Bra Well, Stracathro, Angus
  76. Bradley Spout, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
  77. Brae Well, Livingston, West Lothian
  78. Brae Mou Well, Hopeman, Moray
  79. Brandy Well, Capheaton, Northumberland
  80. Bridge Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  81. Bridge End Well, Elland, West Yorkshire
  82. Brock Well, Lambeth, Surrey
  83. Broomielaw Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  84. Broompark Well, Torphichen, West Lothian
  85. Brow Well, Grassington, North Yorkshire
  86. Brown Haw Well, Hebden, North Yorkshire
  87. Bubbling Well, Baildon, West Yorkshire
  88. Bubbling Well, Cramond, Midlothian
  89. Bull Stank Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  90. Bullion Well, Ecclesmachan, West Lothian
  91. Bullstone’s Spring, Howden Moors, South Yorkshire
  92. Bur Well, Brackley, Northamptonshire
  93. Burning Well, Hindley, Wigan, Lancashire
  94. Butt Well, Cawthorne, South Yorkshire – see Serpent Well, Cawthorne
  95. Butt Well, Stirling, Stirlingshire
  96. Butter Well, Dalmeny, Midlothian
  97. Cairn Well, Cambuslang, Lanarkshire
  98. Calf Hey Spring, Cockden, Briercliffe, Lancashire
  99. Calverley Spa Well, Leeds, West Yorkshire
  100. Calverley Woods Well, Leeds, West Yorkshire
  101. Cammerdown Well, Dunnichen, Angus
  102. Camp Well, Kettins, Angus
  103. Cannie Well, Torphichen, West Lothian
  104. Cartyheugh Well, St. Vigeans, Angus
  105. Castle Hill Well, Gomersal, West Yorkshire
  106. Castle Well, Bamburgh, Northumberland
  107. Cat Well, Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland
  108. Cat Well, West Haddon, Northamptonshire
  109. Cat Well, Whittlebury, Northamptonshire
  110. Cattle Well, Detchant, Northumberland
  111. Cattle Well, Lochmill, Kirriemuir, Angus
  112. Caudey Well, Rothwell, West Yorkshire
  113. Celtic Well, Wishaw, Lanarkshire
  114. Chalybeate Well, Blockley, Gloucestershire
  115. Chalybeate Well, Bothal, Northumberland
  116. Chalybeate Well, Broughton, North Yorkshire
  117. Chalybeate Well, Cambuslang, Lanarkshire
  118. Chalybeate Well, Carluke, Lanarkshire
  119. Chalybeate Well, Calverley, Leeds – see Calverley Spa Well
  120. Chalybeate Well, Debden, Northumberland
  121. Chalybeate Well, Douglas, Lanarkshire 
  122. Chalybeate Well, Kelvingrove, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  123. Chalybeate Well, Portobello, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  124. Chalybeate Well, Rothes, Moray
  125. Chalybeate Well, Walston, Lanarkshire
  126. Chalybeate Well, Wigglesworth, North Yorkshire
  127. Charlie Well, Tullibody, Clackmannanshire
  128. Chartist’s Well, Pendleton Moor, Lancashire
  129. Check Bar Well, Causewayhead, Stirling, Stirlingshire
  130. Civy Sike Spring, Barden Moor, North Yorkshire
  131. Clelland’s Well, Springboards, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  132. Clockmead Well, Currie, Midlothian
  133. Coates Well, Calverley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
  134. Cobbs Well, Bingfield, Northumberland
  135. Cocklake Well, Hawksworth Moor, West Yorkshire
  136. Cockplay Well, Auchinloch, Lanarkshire
  137. Cocks Well, Whittingham, Northumberland
  138. Coffin Well, Tissington, Derbyshire
  139. Cold Sike Well, Hebden Moor, North Yorkshire
  140. Cold Well, Laneshaw Bridge, Lancashire
  141. Coley’s Well, Colwell, Northumberland
  142. College Well, St. Michael’s Mount, Brechin, Angus
  143. Collie Well, Hartley, Northumberland
  144. Colly Well, Adlington, Kent
  145. Cooper’s Well, Partick, Lanarkshire
  146. Coppy Spring, Wadsworth Moor, West Yorkshire
  147. Cowper Well, Gomersal, West Yorkshire
  148. Crag Well, Shipley Glen, Baildon, West Yorkshire
  149. Crag Well, Snowden, Askwith, North Yorkshire
  150. Crags Well, Blubberhouses, North Yorkshire
  151. Craig Well, Braes of Birkenhills, Aberdeenshire
  152. Craig Well, Creich. Fife
  153. Craig Well, Lundie, Angus
  154. Craig Wells, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  155. Crawley Spring, Glencorse, Midlothian
  156. Cress Well, Blackheath, Kent
  157. Crickle Spa, Broughton, North Yorkshire
  158. Crime Well, Heysham, Lancashire
  159. Cromwell’s Well, Ormskirk, Lancashire
  160. Crooked Well, Bo’Ness, West Lothian
  161. Cross Well, Dundee, Angus
  162. Crowfoot Well, Birtley, Northumberland
  163. Crutch Well, BaildonWest Yorkshire
  164. Cuddy’s Well, Doddington, Northumberland
  165. Cullens Well, Dunblane, Stirlingshire
  166. Cunnel Fold Well, Marsett, Bainbridge, North Yorkshire
  167. Curate’s Well, Dunsyre, Lanarkshire
  168. Cuthbert Well, Ellingham, Northumberland
  169. Cutty Well, Brampton – see Nine Wells
  170. Davie’s Well, Langholm, Dumfriesshire
  171. Davy Well, Wadsworth Moor, West Yorkshire
  172. Deanside Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  173. Deer Gallows Well, Embsay Moor, North Yorkshire
  174. Delf Well, Duddingston, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  175. Den Well, Alyth, Perthshire
  176. Diana’s Temple Well, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
  177. Dib Well, Appletreewick, North Yorkshire
  178. Dissenters’ Well, Kelbrook, Earby, Lancashire
  179. Docken Well, Alyth, Perthshire
  180. Docken Well, Lintrathen, Angus
  181. Dodgson’s Clough Spring, Halifax, West Yorkshire
  182. Doidy Poidy Well, Gomersal, West Yorkshire
  183. Dorrick’s Well, Kinghorn, Fife
  184. Dovecot Well, Balloch, Alyth, Angus
  185. Dovestones Well, Blubberhouses, North Yorkshire
  186. Dowgill Spout, Heyshaw, Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire
  187. Drabby Well, Colden, Heptonstall, West Yorkshire
  188. Drimvargie Spring, Oban, Argyll
  189. Dripping Well, Arbroath, Angus
  190. Dropping Well, Grewelthorpe, North Yorkshire
  191. Droustie’s Well, Lochlee – see St. Drostan’s Well
  192. Drumming Well, Oundle, Northamptonshire
  193. Duncan’s Well, Westquarter, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
  194. Duckladge Well, Lintrathen, Angus
  195. Dundas Well, Pitlivie Moor, Arbirlot, Angus
  196. Durks Well, Alyth, Perthshire
  197. East Well, Astwell-with-Falcutt, Northamptonshire
  198. East Well, Whittingham, Northumbria
  199. Egg Well, Ashenhurst, Leek, Staffordshire
  200. Ellen’s Well, Blair Drummond, Stirlingshire
  201. Elm Crag Well, Bingley, West Yorkshire
  202. Enochbank Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  203. Erringden Spa, Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire
  204. Eye Well, Byker, Northumberland
  205. Eye Well, East Unthank, Northumberland
  206. Eyebright Well, Leeds, West Yorkshire
  207. Fag Well, Finsbury, London, Middlesex
  208. Far Well, Baildon, West Yorkshire
  209. Far Well, Hebden, North Yorkshire
  210. Fare Well, Calverley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
  211. Farkentree Well, Linton, North Yorkshire
  212. Fat Jack Well, Appletreewick, North Yorkshire
  213. Fiddler’s Well, New Monkland, Lanarkshire
  214. Finer’s Well, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland
  215. Finfan Well, Urquhart, Moray
  216. Fingal’s Well, Kirkmichael, Perthshire
  217. Flask Well, Howgill, North Yorkshire
  218. Flass Bent Well, Laneshaw Bridge, Lancashire
  219. Foal’s Well, Grantown on Spey, Moray
  220. Fold Hole Spring, Widdop Moor, West Yorkshire
  221. Fountain Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  222. Fountain Well, Sighthill, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  223. Four Sisters Wells, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  224. Frog Well, Lower Swell, Gloucestershire
  225. Frog Well, Yarnton, Oxfordshire
  226. Fuaran nam Biolaire, Cashlie, Glen Lyon, Perthshire
  227. Fuke Well, Pudsey, Leeds, West Yorkshire
  228. Gerchew Well, Balfron, Stirlingshire
  229. Hangie’s Well, Cargill, Perthshire
  230. Hawk Well, York, North Yorkshire
  231. Hazel Well, Heswell, Lancashire
  232. Heugh Well, Blairgowrie, Perthshire
  233. Holland’s Well, Smalley, Derbyshire
  234. Homer Well, Looe, Cornwall
  235. Horley Green Spa, Halifax, West Yorkshire
  236. Lambeth Wells, London, Surrey
  237. Meadow Well, Shuttle Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  238. Meadowside Well, Partick, Lanarkshire
  239. Middleton Moor, Cowling, North Yorkshire
  240. Miley Well, Redmire, North Yorkshire
  241. Mineral Well, Airdrie, Lanarkshire
  242. Mineral Well, Anderston, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  243. Mineral Well, Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland
  244. Mineral Well, Blanefield, Stirlingshire
  245. Mineral Well, Blantyre, Lanarkshire
  246. Mineral Well, Dollar, Clackmannanshire
  247. Mineral Well, Fortingall, Glen Lyon, Perthshire
  248. Mineral Well, Portobello, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  249. Ochre Well, Widdop Moor, Heptonstall, West Yorkshire
  250. Organn Well, Pontefract, West Yorkshire
  251. Owl Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  252. Pear Tree Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  253. Penny Well, Granton, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  254. Pump Well, John Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  255. Randall Well, Bradford, West Yorkshire
  256. Ratten Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  257. Redman’s Spa, Bingley Moor, West Yorkshire
  258. Red Mires Well, Hebden Moor, North Yorkshire
  259. Red Well, Alloa, Clackmannanshire
  260. Reed Well, Welton, Northamptonshire
  261. Rivock Well, Riddlesden, West Yorkshire
  262. Rivock Well, Silsden, West Yorkshire
  263. Rob Roy’s Well, Aberfoyle, Perthshire
  264. Rock Well, Eccleshill, Bradford, West Yorkshire
  265. Rombald’s Well, Morton Moor, West Yorkshire
  266. Rushy Beck Spring, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
  267. Salters Well, Gomersal, West Yorkshire
  268. Salt Market Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  269. Scotland Well, Scotlandwell, Kinross
  270. Scout Willie’s Well, Idle, Bradford, West Yorkshire
  271. Sheep Well, Isle of May, Fife
  272. Skinners Well, Finsbury, London, Middlesex
  273. Skirtful Spring, Hawksworth Moor, West Yorkshire
  274. Slaughter’s Well, Lechlade-on-Thames, Gloucestershire
  275. Sore Eye Well, Beckenham, Kent
  276. Sore Eye Well, Eldwick, West Yorkshire
  277. Southergill Well, Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire
  278. South Running Well, Newburgh, Fife
  279. Spa Well, Barnton, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  280. Spa Well, Bingley, West Yorkshire
  281. Spa Well, Broughton, North Yorkshire
  282. Spa Well, Davidson’s Mains, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  283. Spa Well, Elland, West Yorkshire
  284. Spa Well, Lauriston, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  285. Spa Well, Preston, Lancashire
  286. Spa Well, Portpatrick, Wigtownshire
  287. Spa Well, Whitby, North Yorkshire
  288. Spa Well, Wigglesworth, North Yorkshire – see Sulphur Well
  289. Spink Well, Baildon Moor, West Yorkshire
  290. Spink Well, Bradford, West Yorkshire
  291. Spink Well, Burnsall, North Yorkshire
  292. Spink Well, Gomersal, West Yorkshire
  293. Spittal Well, York, North Yorkshire
  294. Spout Well, New Monkland, Lanarkshire
  295. Spoutmouth Wells, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  296. Spring Well, Kelvingrove House, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  297. Spring Well, Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  298. Springbank Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  299. Standard Well, Narden Moor, North Yorkshire
  300. Stock Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  301. Stone Well, Rothwell, West Yorkshire
  302. Street Well, Bapchild, Kent
  303. Sugar Well, Calverley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
  304. Sulphur Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  305. Sulphur Well, Wigglesworth, North Yorkshire
  306. Swanston Springs, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  307. Sweet Well, Morton Moor, West Yorkshire
  308. Sweet Willy Well, Wrose, Shipley, West Yorkshire
  309. Swift Cross Spa, Soyland, West Yorkshire
  310. Tammy Mill’s Well, Laurieston, Stirlingshire
  311. Tod’s Well, Comiston, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  312. Todds Well, Garthamlock, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  313. Tom Well, Stott Hill Moor, North Yorkshire
  314. Tomling Well, Calverley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
  315. Tree Root Well, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire
  316. Trinity Well, Trinity Gask, Perthshire
  317. Tron Well, Tullibody, Clackmannanshire
  318. Trongate Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  319. True Well, Oakworth, West Yorkshire
  320. Trumpeter’s Well, Strathaven, Lanarkshire
  321. Tun Well, Eccleshill, Bradford, West Yorkshire
  322. Twentypenny Well, Duddingston, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  323. Upper Ellistone’s Well, Greetland, West Yorkshire
  324. Vauxhall Well, Lambeth, London, Surrey
  325. Vennel Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  326. Wallace’s Well, Dunfermline, Fife
  327. Walloper Well, Newton, Lancashire
  328. Wanstead Spa, Redbridge, London, Essex
  329. Waterloo Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  330. Waterloo Well, North Queensferry, Fife
  331. Watkinson Well, Embsay Moor, North Yorkshire
  332. Well of the Mosses, Glen Almond, Perthshire
  333. West Bow Well, Edinburgh – see Bowfoot Well
  334. Westgate Well, Embsay Moor, North Yorkshire
  335. Westport Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
  336. Westport Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
  337. Whin Knoll Well, Black Hill, Keighley, West Yorkshire
  338. Whin Well, Stirling, Stirlingshire
  339. Whitfield Sike Springs, Embsay Moor, North Yorkshire
  340. Wicken Tree Well, Burley-in-Wharfedale, West Yorkshire
  341. Willie Bold’s Well, Galashiels, Selkirkshire
  342. Willie’s Well, North Queensferry, Fife
  343. Winter Hill Well, Keighley Moor, West Yorkshire
  344. Witshaw Spring, Embsay Moor, North Yorkshire
  345. Wood Well, Batley, West Yorkshire
  346. Wood WellShipley Glen, Gilstead, West Yorkshire