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