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 healing lore.
- Abernathen Well, Kirriemuir, Angus
- Abraham’s Well, Baildon, West Yorkshire
- Acre Well, Baildon, West Yorkshire
- Acton Well, Blanchland, Northumberland
- Adam’s Well, Colinton, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Adam’s Well, Old Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire
- Adam’s Well, New Monkland, Lanarkshire
- Adam’s Well, Peak Forest, Derbyshire
- Adam’s Well, Todmorden, West Yorkshire
- Ailsa Well, Bingley, West Yorkshire
- Airthrey Mineral Wells, Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire
- Alders Well, Hawksworth, West Yorkshire
- Alum Well, Hexham, Northumberland
- Amb Well, Foulridge, Lancashire
- An Tiobairt, Kenmore, Perthshire
- Arch Well, Harlestone, Northamptonshire
- Aristotle’s Well, Oxford, Oxfordshire
- Arn Well, Alyth, Perthshire
- Arns Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Ash Well, Heaton, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Ash Well, Manningham, Bradford, West Yorkshire – see Holy Ash Well
- Ash Well, Rothwell, West Yorkshire
- Ashes Well, Whitby, North Yorkshire
- Atherton’s Well, Preston, Lancashire
- Auchenleck Well, Robroyston – see Wallace’s Well
- Avon Well, Naseby, Northamptonshire
- Back o’ Brae Well, Easterhouse, Glasgow – see Todd’s Well
- Balm Well, Edinburgh – see St. Catherine’s Well
- Bank Well, Alyth, Perthshire
- Barley Well, East Kilbridge, Lanarkshire
- Barrasyett Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Barrel Well, Brechin, Angus
- Barrel’s Well, Causewayhead, Stirlingshire
- Batties Well, Haughhead, Arbirlot, Angus
- Battle Well, Montreathmont Moor, Brechin, Angus
- Beggars Gill Well, Grassington, North Yorkshire
- Berry Well, Swinton, Masham, North Yorkshire
- Bessie Barre’s Well, Culross, Fife
- Betty’s Well, Langholm, Dumfriesshire
- Billey Well, Grewelthorpe, North Yorkshire
- Binns Well, Baildon, West Yorkshire
- Birch Well, Boughton Aluph, Kent
- Birch Well, Wanstead, Essex
- Birnie Well, Slamannan, Stirlingshire
- Birkin Well, Hawksworth, West Yorkshire
- Birley Spa, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- Black Dike Well, Norwood, North Yorkshire
- Black Hill Well, Hebden Moor, North Yorkshire
- Black Spring, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Blind Well, Alyth, Perthshire
- Blind Well, Doddington, Northumberland
- Blind Well, Kirkton of Largo, Fife
- Blind Well, Lanark, Lanarkshire
- Blond Well, Bannockburn, Stirlingshire
- Bluidy Well, Abdie, Fife
- Bluidy Well, Newburgh, Fife
- Boar Well, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Bodan’s Well, Alyth, Perthshire
- Bog Well, Cambusbarron, Stirlingshire
- Boiling Springs, Cambusbarron, Stirling, Stirlingshire
- Bones Well, Welton, Northamptonshire
- Bore Well, Bingfield, Northumberland
- Botham’s Well, Blubberhouses, North Yorkshire
- Bowdler’s Well, Ash-cum-Ridley, Kent
- Bower Well, Blairgowrie, Angus
- Bowfoot Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Bra Well, Stracathro, Angus
- Bradley Spout, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
- Brae Well, Livingston, West Lothian
- Brae Mou Well, Hopeman, Moray
- Brandy Well, Capheaton, Northumberland
- Bridge Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Brock Well, Lambeth, Surrey
- Broomielaw Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Broompark Well, Torphichen, West Lothian
- Brow Well, Grassington, North Yorkshire
- Brown Haw Well, Hebden, North Yorkshire
- Bubbling Well, Baildon, West Yorkshire
- Bubbling Well, Cramond, Midlothian
- Bull Stank Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Bullion Well, Ecclesmachan, West Lothian
- Bullstone’s Spring, Howden Moors, South Yorkshire
- Bur Well, Brackley, Northamptonshire
- Burning Well, Hindley, Wigan, Lancashire
- Butt Well, Cawthorne, South Yorkshire – see Serpent Well, Cawthorne
- Butt Well, Stirling, Stirlingshire
- Butter Well, Dalmeny, Midlothian
- Cairn Well, Cambuslang, Lanarkshire
- Calf Hey Spring, Cockden, Briercliffe, Lancashire
- Calverley Spa Well, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- Calverley Woods Well, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- Cammerdown Well, Dunnichen, Angus
- Camp Well, Kettins, Angus
- Cannie Well, Torphichen, West Lothian
- Cartyheugh Well, St. Vigeans, Angus
- Castle Hill Well, Gomersal, West Yorkshire
- Castle Well, Bamburgh, Northumberland
- Cat Well, Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland
- Cat Well, West Haddon, Northamptonshire
- Cat Well, Whittlebury, Northamptonshire
- Cattle Well, Detchant, Northumberland
- Cattle Well, Lochmill, Kirriemuir, Angus
- Caudey Well, Rothwell, West Yorkshire
- Celtic Well, Wishaw, Lanarkshire
- Chalybeate Well, Bothal, Northumberland
- Chalybeate Well, Cambuslang, Lanarkshire
- Chalybeate Well, Carluke, Lanarkshire
- Chalybeate Well, Calverley, Leeds – see Calverley Spa Well
- Chalybeate Well, Debden, Northumberland
- Chalybeate Well, Douglas, Lanarkshire
- Chalybeate Well, Kelvingrove, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Chalybeate Well, Portobello, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Chalybeate Well, Rothes, Moray
- Chalybeate Well, Walston, Lanarkshire
- Charlie Well, Tullibody, Clackmannanshire
- Chartist’s Well, Pendleton Moor, Lancashire
- Check Bar Well, Causewayhead, Stirling, Stirlingshire
- Civy Sike Spring, Barden Moor, North Yorkshire
- Clelland’s Well, Springboards, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Clockmead Well, Currie, Midlothian
- Coates Well, Calverley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- Cobbs Well, Bingfield, Northumberland
- Cocklake Well, Hawksworth Moor, West Yorkshire
- Cockplay Well, Auchinloch, Lanarkshire
- Cocks Well, Whittingham, Northumberland
- Coffin Well, Tissington, Derbyshire
- Cold Sike Well, Hebden Moor, North Yorkshire
- Cold Well, Laneshaw Bridge, Lancashire
- Coley’s Well, Colwell, Northumberland
- College Well, St. Michael’s Mount, Brechin, Angus
- Collie Well, Hartley, Northumberland
- Colly Well, Adlington, Kent
- Coppy Spring, Wadsworth Moor, West Yorkshire
- Cowper Well, Gomersal, West Yorkshire
- Crag Well, Shipley Glen, Baildon, West Yorkshire
- Crag Well, Snowden, Askwith, North Yorkshire
- Crags Well, Blubberhouses, North Yorkshire
- Craig Well, Braes of Birkenhills, Aberdeenshire
- Craig Well, Creich. Fife
- Craig Well, Lundie, Angus
- Craig Wells, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Crawley Spring, Glencorse, Midlothian
- Cress Well, Blackheath, Kent
- Crime Well, Heysham, Lancashire
- Crooked Well, Bo’Ness, West Lothian
- Crowfoot Well, Birtley, Northumberland
- Crutch Well, Baildon, West Yorkshire
- Cuddy’s Well, Doddington, Northumberland
- Cullens Well, Dunblane, Stirlingshire
- Cunnel Fold Well, Marsett, Bainbridge, North Yorkshire
- Curate’s Well, Dunsyre, Lanarkshire
- Cuthbert Well, Ellingham, Northumberland
- Cutty Well, Brampton – see Nine Wells
- Davie’s Well, Langholm, Dumfriesshire
- Davy Well, Wadsworth Moor, West Yorkshire
- Deanside Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Deer Gallows Well, Embsay Moor, North Yorkshire
- Delf Well, Duddingston, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Den Well, Alyth, Perthshire
- Diana’s Temple Well, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
- Dib Well, Appletreewick, North Yorkshire
- Dissenters’ Well, Kelbrook, Earby, Lancashire
- Docken Well, Alyth, Perthshire
- Docken Well, Lintrathen, Angus
- Doidy Poidy Well, Gomersal, West Yorkshire
- Dorrick’s Well, Kinghorn, Fife
- Dovecot Well, Balloch, Alyth, Angus
- Dovestones Well, Blubberhouses, North Yorkshire
- Dowgill Spout, Heyshaw, Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire
- Drabby Well, Colden, Heptonstall, West Yorkshire
- Drimvargie Spring, Oban, Argyll
- Dripping Well, Arbroath, Angus
- Dropping Well, Grewelthorpe, North Yorkshire
- Droustie’s Well, Lochlee – see St. Drostan’s Well
- Drumming Well, Oundle, Northamptonshire
- Duncan’s Well, Westquarter, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
- Duckladge Well, Lintrathen, Angus
- Dundas Well, Pitlivie Moor, Arbirlot, Angus
- Durks Well, Alyth, Perthshire
- East Well, Astwell-with-Falcutt, Northamptonshire
- East Well, Whittingham, Northumbria
- Egg Well, Ashenhurst, Leek, Staffordshire
- Ellen’s Well, Blair Drummond, Stirlingshire
- Elm Crag Well, Bingley, West Yorkshire
- Enochbank Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Eye Well, Byker, Northumberland
- Eye Well, East Unthank, Northumberland
- Fag Well, Finsbury, London, Middlesex
- Far Well, Baildon, West Yorkshire
- Far Well, Hebden, North Yorkshire
- Fare Well, Calverley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- Farkentree Well, Linton, North Yorkshire
- Fat Jack Well, Appletreewick, North Yorkshire
- Fiddler’s Well, New Monkland, Lanarkshire
- Finer’s Well, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland
- Finfan Well, Urquhart, Moray
- Fingal’s Well, Kirkmichael, Perthshire
- Flask Well, Howgill, North Yorkshire
- Flass Bent Well, Laneshaw Bridge, Lancashire
- Foal’s Well, Grantown on Spey, Moray
- Fold Hole Spring, Widdop Moor, West Yorkshire
- Fountain Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Fountain Well, Sighthill, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Four Sisters Wells, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Frog Well, Lower Swell, Gloucestershire
- Frog Well, Yarnton, Oxfordshire
- Fuaran nam Biolaire, Cashlie, Glen Lyon, Perthshire
- Fuck Well, Pudsey, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- Holland’s Well, Smalley, Derbyshire
- Meadow Well, Shuttle Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Meadowside Well, Partick, Lanarkshire
- Middleton Moor, Cowling, North Yorkshire
- Miley Well, Redmire, North Yorkshire
- Mineral Well, Airdrie, Lanarkshire
- Mineral Well, Anderston, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Mineral Well, Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland
- Mineral Well, Blanefield, Stirlingshire
- Mineral Well, Blantyre, Lanarkshire
- Mineral Well, Dollar, Clackmannanshire
- Mineral Well, Fortingall, Glen Lyon, Perthshire
- Mineral Well, Portobello, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Owl Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Pear Tree Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Pump Well, John Street, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Randall Well, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Ratten Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Red Mires Well, Hebden Moor, North Yorkshire
- Red Well, Alloa, Clackmannanshire
- Reed Well, Welton, Northamptonshire
- Rivock Well, Riddlesden, West Yorkshire
- Rivock Well, Silsden, West Yorkshire
- Rock Well, Eccleshill, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Rombald’s Well, Morton Moor, West Yorkshire
- Rushy Beck Spring, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Salters Well, Gomersal, West Yorkshire
- Salt Market Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Sheep Well, Isle of May, Fife
- Skinners Well, Finsbury, London, Middlesex
- Sore Eye Well, Beckenham, Kent
- Sore Eyes Well, Eldwick, West Yorkshire
- Southergill Well, Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire
- South Running Well, Newburgh, Fife
- Spa Well, Barnton, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Spa Well, Bingley, West Yorkshire
- Spa Well, Davidson’s Mains, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Spa Well, Lauriston, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Spa Well, Preston, Lancashire
- Spa Well, Portpatrick, Wigtownshire
- Spa Well, Whitby, North Yorkshire
- Spink Well, Baildon Moor, West Yorkshire
- Spink Well, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Spink Well, Burnsall, North Yorkshire
- Spink Well, Gomersal, West Yorkshire
- Spout Well, New Monkland, Lanarkshire
- Spoutmouth Wells, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Spring Well, Kelvingrove House, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Spring Well, Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Springbank Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Standard Well, Narden Moor, North Yorkshire
- Stock Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Stone Well, Rothwell, West Yorkshire
- Street Well, Bapchild, Kent
- Sugar Well, Calverley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- Sulphur Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Swanston Springs, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Sweet Well, Morton Moor, West Yorkshire
- Sweet Willy Well, Wrose, Shipley, West Yorkshire
- Tod’s Well, Comiston, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Todds Well, Garthamlock, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Tom Well, Stott Hill Moor, North Yorkshire
- Tomling Well, Calverley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- Trinity Well, Trinity Gask, Perthshire
- Tron Well, Tullibody, Clackmannanshire
- Trongate Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- True Well, Oakworth, West Yorkshire
- Tun Well, Eccleshill, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Twentypenny Well, Duddingston, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Vauxhall Well, Lambeth, London, Surrey
- Vennel Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Walloper Well, Newton, Lancashire
- Wanstead Spa, Redbridge, London, Essex
- Waterloo Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Waterloo Well, North Queensferry, Fife
- Watkinson Well, Embsay Moor, North Yorkshire
- Well of the Mosses, Glen Almond, Perthshire
- West Bow Well, Edinburgh – see Bowfoot Well
- Westgate Well, Embsay Moor, North Yorkshire
- Westport Well, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
- Whin Knoll Well, Black Hill, Keighley, West Yorkshire
- Whin Well, Stirling, Stirlingshire
- Whitfield Sike Springs, Embsay Moor, North Yorkshire
- Wicken Tree Well, Burley-in-Wharfedale, West Yorkshire
- Willie Bold’s Well, Galashiels, Selkirkshire
- Willie’s Well, North Queensferry, Fife
- Winter Hill Well, Keighley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Witshaw Spring, Embsay Moor, North Yorkshire
- Wood Well, Shipley Glen, Gilstead, West Yorkshire