Tag: Nottinghamshire

St. Chad’s Well, Logierait, Perthshire

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Holy Well (destroyed):  OS Grid Reference – NN 9677 5199

Also Known as:

  1. Fuaran Chad
  2. St. Cedd’s Well

Archaeology & History

All trace of this once renowned holy well seems to have gone.  It was located, according to the local historian James Kennedy (1927) “on the terrace behind the Church”; although Charles Stewart (1880) earlier told that it was found on the hillside above the church.  On our recent visit here, the level piece of land just above the River Tay, “on the terrace behind the Church” as Kennedy told, had no notable spring of water upon it—but we didn’t check the slope above the road to see if there was anything there. By all accounts it’s long since gone.

There’s also slight confusion regarding the dedication of this well.  Kennedy, once more, ascribed it to have been St Cedd’s Well, the brother of St Chad, and not Chad himself who was venerated here.  But this wasn’t the view of MacKinlay (1893) or Knight (1933) in their major studies.  But let’s leave that element to the hagiologists for the time being!

Tradition told that the spirit of the waters was deeply offended when the annual market in Logierait—dedicated to St Chad/Ched on his saint’s day of August 22—was stopped.  As a result the waters removed themselves and fell back to Earth.  This curious motif is found at a number of wells in other parts of the country.

References:

  1. Kennedy, James, Folklore and Reminiscences of Strathtay and Grandtully, Munro Press: Perth 1927.
  2. Knight, G.A.F., Archaeological Light on the Early Christianizing of Scotland – volume 2, James Clarke: London 1933.
  3. MacKinlay, James M., Folklore of Scottish Lochs and Springs, William Hodge: Glasgow 1893.
  4. MacKinlay, James M., Influence of the Pre-Reformation Church on Scottish Place-Names, William Blackwood: Edinburgh 1904.
  5. Mitchell, Hugh, Pitlochry District: Its Topography, Archaeology and History, L. Mackay: Pitlochry 1923.
  6. Morris, Ruth & Frank, Scottish Healing Wells, Alethea: Sandy 1982.
  7. Stewart, Charles, The Gaelic Kingdom in Scotland, Maclachlan & Stewart: Edinburgh 1880.

© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian 

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

Mineral Well, Hickling, Nottinghamshire

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Healing Well (lost):  OS Grid Reference – SK 692 293

Archaeology & History

At the rear east-side of st. Luke’s church in what was once the old stable yard at the back of the rectory, a large pond can be seen.  In the 19th Century it was much smaller than it’s present size—and in the centuries before that, it took the simple form of a clear spring of water, known by local folk simply as the Mineral Spring.  The medicinal properties of the waters seem to have been forgotten…

References:

  1. Wadkin, H.M., Hickling: Reflections of Yesteryear, Sherwood Free Press 1991.

© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian

Holy Well, Basford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

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Holy Well (lost):  OS Grid Reference – SK 553 427

Archaeology & History

First mentioned in place-name records from 1409, this seemingly lost sacred well could be found in the south-side of St. Leodegarius’s churchyard.  It was filled-in sometime in the 19th century when the ground around it collapsed to some considerable depth, so the hole was covered.  Despite this, water kept re-appearing on and off over the decades and, in Bob Morrell’s (1988) holy wells survey, he told that following constant heavy rains in 1987, it was filled in for the last time.

References:

  1. Bailey, Thomas, Annals of Nottinghamshire, Simpkin Marshall: London 1853.
  2. Gover, J.E.B., Mawer, Allen & Stenton, F.M., The Place-Names of Nottinghamshire, Cambridge University Press 1940.
  3. Harte, Jeremy, English Holy Wells – 3 volumes, Heart of Albion press: Wymeswold 2008.
  4. Morrell, Robert, Nottinghamshire Holy Wells and Springs, Nottingham 1988.

© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian

Prior’s Well, Worksop, Nottinghamshire

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Holy Well (destroyed):  OS Grid Reference – SK 589 789

Also Known as:

  1. Prior Well

Archaeology & History

Once to be seen in the ancient landscape immediately northwest of Worksop Priory by the old Mill Pond, this sacred well has sadly been built over, but memory of it is still retained in Priorswell street-name and, previously, the Priorwell Brewery.  Not much has been written about it, but thankfully the historian John Holland (1826) gave us a short account, saying:

“There is a spring, now enclosed, called the “Priorwell,” and a meadow, of four acres, denominated from the same; and from which, it might be presumed, that the canons would draw their supplies of water, was it not for the convenient proximity of the river, which they must have had to ford for that purpose.  It was “formerly”, says Parkyns, in his Monastic and Baronial Remains, “celebrated for miraculous cures; but since monastic deceptions have unveiled themselves, votaries no longer offer, and consequently cures are no longer performed.”  This may have been the case: more recently the well has been resorted to by persons having sore eyes, in the cure of which, it is said to be efficacious, and has probably the common virtue of fresh cool spring-water.”

References:

  1. Holland, John, The History, Antiquities and Description of the Town and Parish of Worksop, J. Blackwell: Sheffield 1826.
  2. Parkyns, George I., Monastic and Baronial Remains – volume 1, Longmans Hurst: London 1816.
  3. White, Robert, Worksop, The Dukery and Sherwood Forest, Simpkin Marshall: London 1875.

© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian

King’s Well, Calverton, Nottinghamshire

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Healing Well:  OS Grid Reference – SK 615 489

The spring emerges from under the bridge into the pool

The spring emerges from under the bridge into the pool

Also Known as:

  1. Keen Well

Getting Here

In Calverton, take Renals Way off the main street and follow it around until you reach the end and a copse. Take the left hand path. When the footbridge is reached the spring head is encountered.

Archaeology & History

Also known as the Keen Well, fortunately it still survives.  It arises between some sandstone blocks forming a small cave where a strong spring flows and fills a small pool with some rough stones around it. The pool does not appear very deep although is it overgrown in parts. A footbridge crosses over the springhead, meaning that one has to peer under it to see the spring.  The area surrounding Renals Way and Dark Lane is ear-marked for development and I hope that this spring can survive this stage of its history.

Folklore

Bob Morrell (1988) in his Holy Wells of Nottinghamshire notes a site (although he does not name it), which was attended by pilgrims near and far, and had the tradition that ‘kings’ after hunting in Sherwood Forest would visit it ‘to quaff the nectar’.

In the well chamber it looks a natural spring

In the well chamber it looks a natural spring

Close view of the spring head

Close view of the spring head

Morrell (1988) fails to state whether it still existed, but the site in question would appear to be the Keen Well.  It’s name being possibly derived from King’s Well.  According to Mr. Peck of the local history museum, this was supposed to have used by ‘Old Saxon Kings’ to bathe their eyes as a protection against failing sight.  One of the medieval kings and his attendants are also reputed to have stopped here whilst travelling to the North.

References:

  1. R.W. Morrell (1988) Nottinghamshire Holy Wells
  2. R.B. Parish (2008) Holy wells and healing springs of Nottinghamshire

Links:

  1. Holy & Healing Wells

© R.B. Parish, The Northern Antiquarian


St. Mary’s Well, Wallingwells, Nottinghamshire

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Holy Well:  OS Grid Reference – SK 572 840

Archaeology & History

Old photo of St Mary's Well

Old photo of St Mary’s Well

First mentioned in Pipe Rolls and referred to by the founder of Wallingwells Benedictine Priory (founded around 1150 CE) as ‘juxta fonts et rivum fontium’, the site Wallingwell or originally Waldon-by-the-Wells, may be significant.  The name refers to ‘bubbling wells’, but whether these wells were dedicated appears to be unknown, although it does seem likely.  Indeed, an anonymous article from the Worksop Guardian dated 1929 on the Wallingwell Estate, shows the well arising under a rough stone work arch beside the site of a lake.  Close by, appears to be a grotto of a similar construction. The article states that the grotto was built 250 years (from 1929 this suggests a date of 1679 which appears a little too early for this folly, a date in the 18th century being more likely). This was done by Thomas White using stone from petrified springs in Derbyshire. No reference is made of the well, but one assumes that it was built at the same time, but whether White was constructing a folly around an existing traditional site again is unknown.

Baker (2000) refers to the castle folly but fails to reference these sites suggesting that it had vanished. However, grotto and well still exist in the overgrown and forlorn garden to the back of the house.  The grotto is well-preserved, although signs of ruination are evident and the urn within has gone.

The internal brickwork

The internal brickwork

The overgrown well

The overgrown well

St. Mary’s Well is the most ruined. The archway appears to have fallen or been knocked down but the channel or basin the spring flows into still exists. Observation underneath a flattened stone covering the channel show that the spring flows from a pipe further up and under a series of neat brick arches. It is clear that the well structure was never accessible as it abutts onto the Lake, but was designed to be seen from the other side of the Lake. This view now is difficult due to the considerable plant growth obscuring the sites. It is good to see that the well still exists and hopefully the garden could be restored.

Extracted from R. B. Parish (2009) Holy Wells and Healing Springs of Nottinghamshire

Links:

  1. Holy & Healing Wells

© R.B. Parish, The Northern Antiquarian