Bully Well - Chew Magna

"Of Bully Well no legend is forthcoming. Its waters are said to be efficacious for diseases of the eye."

Hope 1893

Map - Chew Magna

Well at Rialton Priory

"There is a well here, an illustration of which is given below."

Hope 1893

Map - Rialton Priory

Saint Kilby's Well, Duloe

"Between Duloe and the village of Sand-place, on the canal, is a celebrated spring sacred to St. Cuby--believed to be St. Cuthbert--and commonly called St. Kilby's."

Hope 1893

Map - Saint Kilby's

Copyrighted Photo

Luxulion Well

"In the village is a little baptistry, with a granite roof and sides."

Hope 1893

Map - Luxulyon

Colurton Well, Ludgvan

Colurton Well - an Iron Age sacred spring? - Please credit this website if you wish to use my drawing

"This well is in the parish of Ludgvan. It was sacred before the saints.--Polwhele's History of Cornwall."

Hope 1893


Map - Ludgvan

Saint Ruan's or Saint Rumon's Well, Grade

"The well is about a quarter of a mile from Grade Church, rudely built of granite. Its water is used for all baptisms in the church. St. Rumon is believed to have come as a missionary from Ireland in the ninth or tenth century, and to have dwelt in a wood near Grade Church and the Lizard Point, having a cell and chapel, and regardless of the wild beasts which then roamed there. His name excited such reverence, that his remains were removed to Tavistock Abbey."

Hope 1893

Map -Saint Ruan's Well

Map - Lizard Point

Map - Tavistock Abbey

Our Lady of Nantswell, Saint Colan

A floating Palm Cross in Nantswell (the forms are imagined!) - Please credit this website if you wish to use my drawing

"In former days "Our Lady of Nantswell," in St. Colan's parish, near St. Columb Major, was resorted to by men, women, and children, to foreknow of the Lady of the Well, on Palm Sunday, what should befall them that year. These pilgrims bore a palm cross in one hand and an offering in the other. The offering fell to the priest's share: the cross was thrown into the well, and if it swam was regarded as an omen that the person who threw it would outlive the year; if, however, it sank, a shortly ensuing death was foreboded."

Hope 1893

Map -Saint Colan

Saint Breward's Well

"This well is situated in a valley near a farm called "Chapel," close to Camelford. It is, or was, visited by sufferers from inflamed eyes and other complaints. As an offering, the sufferer threw in a pin, or small coin, to the saint.--Western Antiquary, 37."

 

Hope 1893

Map - Saint Breward's Well

Saint Neot's Well - part 1

Saint Neot at prayer in his well - Please credit this website if you wish to use this image

"St. Neot's Well, not far west from the church, was arched over in granite by the late General Carlyon, the old arched covering, having fallen in many years ago. St. Neot, said to have been learned, eloquent, and intelligent, was a monk of Glastonbury, and supposed to have been brother to Alfred the Great, contemporary with St. Dunstan ; he died 800. Many sought his prayers, either for relief of their infirmities, or for spiritual comfort. Wearied of his fame he retired to his hermitage here, with one attendant, Barius. It was in this well that he stood up to his chin daily, and chanted the Psalter throughout...." [cont...]

Hope 1893

Brass Well, Trelevan

"In Trelevean, in the neighbourhood of Mevagissey, there was in former years an extraordinary well, called the Brass Well, from the peculiar colour of the scum which floated on its surface. Its efficacy was, however, insufficient to perpetuate its name, and to the present incredulous age its many virtues seem to be totally unknown." 

Hope 1893

Map - Mevagissey

Bodmin - Scarlet Well

Scarlet's Well 1920 - Reproduced courtesy of Francis Frith.

"Many extraordinary virtues have been ascribed to this well, which is situated one mile west of Bodmin ; but of late years its reputation has so much declined that its situation is scarcely known. Its imaginary properties resembled those of the Madern Well, but the cures which it wrought were too scanty to secure its reputation."

Hope 1893

Map - Scarlet Well

Basil's Well, St Cleather

"In the parish of St. Cleather, Cornwall, and on the granite sprinkled banks of the Innay, lie the ruins of a well chapel. The spring of water flows from under the altar, A, which is marked with four crosses. The chapel is known by the name of Basil's Well."

Hope 1893

Map - Basil's Well

The Priestess of Gulval

The Piestess of Gulval Well - Please attribute this website if you wish to use my drawing.

"This miraculous well, in the parish of Gulval or Gulfwell, was formerly in high repute. It was customary to resort thither at the feast time. Formerly it was famous for its prophetic properties. It is situated, like St. Madern Well, in a moor, called Forsis Moor, in the manor of Lanesly, which was the name of the parish in 1294. This name implies the existence of an ancient church upon the manor, and probably it stood near this well. The spirit of this fountain could not penetrate the recesses of futurity, but it could reveal secrets, and with the assistance of an old woman who was intimately acquainted with all its mysteries, could, inform those who visited it whether their absent friends were alive or dead, in sickness or in health. On approaching this intelligent fountain, the question was proposed aloud to the old woman, when the following appearances gave the reply: If the absent friend were in health, the water was instantly to bubble ; if sick, it was to be suddenly discoloured; but if dead, it was to remain in its natural state. Probably this old woman could discern bubbles, or discoloured water, when no eyes but her own were competent to make the observation; and it was easy to regulate this by means which fortune-tellers usually know how to use. 

This old priestess died about the year 1748. Her fame drew many to consult her, from various parts; some from motives of mere curiosity, and others to obtain intelligence of lost goods or cattle. Since her death, the well has suffered considerably in its character. Most of its ancient friends are dead; and many who secretly revere its power are silent in its praises. Multitudes totally disbelieve its miraculous efficacy, and suspicions of its magical virtues appear to be daily increasing."

Hope 1893

Map - Gulval

[There is a suggestion on the internet that this well has now been lost.]

Pelynt - Saint Nun's Well - part 2

"...Though the superstitious hinds had spared the well, time and storms of winter had been slowly ruining it. The oak which grew upon its roof had, by its roots, dislodged several stones of the arch, and, swaying about in the wind, had shaken down a large mass of masonry in the interior, and the greater part of the front. On its ruinous condition being made known to the Trelawny family (on whose property it is situated), they ordered the restoration, and the walls were replaced after the original plan. 

This well and a small chapel (the site of which is no longer to be traced, though still pointed out by the older tenantry) were dedicated, it is supposed, to St. Ninnie, or St. Nun, a female saint, who, according to William of Worcester, was the mother of St. David. The people of the neighbourhood knew the well by the names St. Ninnie's, St. Nun's, and Piskies' Well. It is probable that the latter is, after all, the older name, and that the guardianship of the spring was usurped at a later period by the saint whose name it occasionally bears. The water was doubtless used for sacramental purposes; yet its mystic properties, if they were ever supposed to be dispensed by the saint, have been again transferred, in the popular belief, to the Piskies.

A piskie and a pin at Penlynt - please attribute this website if you wish to use my drawing

In the basin of the well may be found a great number of pins, thrown in by those who have visited it out of curiosity, or to avail themselves of the virtues of its waters. A writer, anxious to know what meaning the peasantry attach to this strange custom, on asking a man at work near the spot, was told that it was done "to get the goodwill of the Piskies," who after the tribute of a pin not only ceased to mislead them, but rendered fortunate the operations of husbandry."

Hope 1893

 Map - Saint Nonna's Well, Penlynt

[There appear to be no copyleft images of the well now on the internet. If anyone has a photo I would love to be able to use it.]

Saint Pirian and the Well

"Beside a path leading to the oratory of St. Pirian's, in the sands, there is a spot where thousands of pins may be found. It was the custom to drop one or two pins at this place when a child was baptized, and this custom was even retained within the recollection of some of the elder inhabitants of the parish. There are other places in this county where pins may be collected by the handful, particularly at the holy wells. The spring rises at the foot of Carn Brea."

Hope 1893

[I can not find the location of this well - St. Pirans Chapel is near Tintagel, where there is no sand near by (Rocky Valley), Carn Brea is the other end of Cornwall and far from the sea. Where is it? Could sand have shifted in the last 100 years?  Is it a different Carn Brea? Help!]

Linkenhorne

"An engraving of this well with its curious covering is here given."

Hope 1893

Map - Linkinhorne

[Grrr - Hope! Why cant you add some more information!]

Polperro: Saint's Well

"The reputed virtues of this well have survived the entire destruction of the edifice which enclosed the spring, for it is still resorted to by those afflicted with inflamed eyes and other ailments, and if "ceremonies due" are done aright, with great benefit. It must be visited on three mornings before sunrise, fasting, a  relic of a veritable ceremony, as witnesseth Chaucer's Pardoner's Tale, line 33. 

If the goode man that the beest oweth,
Wol every wike er that the cok him croweth,
Fastynge, drinke of this well a draugbt,
As thilke holy Jew oure eldres taught,
His beestes, and his stoor schal multiplier "

Hope 1893

Map - Polperro

Ladywell, Sticklepath

"As we enter [Sticklepath] we see the Lady Well and inscribed stone on the hillside.  A large cotoneaster drapes the well, on the front of which is inscribed

Lady Well

Drink and be thankful.

The inscribed stone is just above it. It bares a Latin cross on one side, and on another some curious twisted markings, which have been described by Crossing"

Cresswell 1921

Map - Lady Well, Sticklepath

Cerne - St. Augustine's Well

"St. Augustine destroyed the idol Heil or Heile, or, according to Leland, Helith, the Saxon Æsculapius, or preserver of health, who was worshipped here at that time. This saint's company being weary and thirsty, he stuck his staff in the ground, and fetched out a crystal fountain, whence this Place was called Cernel, from Cerno and El. Fuller thinks it should be Cerneswell, behold the fountain, or Cerne Heal, i.e., see the destruction of the idol.-- Author of Flores Sanctorum in Life of St. Augustine (pp. 515, 516) ; Fuller's Ch. Hist. (pp. 66, 67) ; Dugdale (ii. 621)."

Hope 1893

Map - Cerne Abbas and St Augustine's Well

Elmore

"It has been the custom in the tithing of Motcombe, time out of mind, on the Sunday next after Holy Rood Day, in May every year, for each parish within the borough of Shaston to come down that day to Elmore, or Enmore Green, at one o'clock in the afternoon, with their minstrels, and play with games, and from one to two o'clock-one whole hour to dance. The Mayor of Shaston was to see that the Queen's Bailiff had a penny loaf, a gallon of ale, and a calf s head, with a pair, of gloves; to see the order of the dance that day, and if the dance failed any day and the bailiff had not his due, the bailiff and his men stopped the water from the four wells at Elmore which supplied the borough.

A slightly different account of this is given in Dyer's Brit. Pop. Customs, pp. 205-6"

Hope 1893

Map - Motcombe
Map - Enmore Green