The History and Mystery of our Sacred springs

• About me.• Holy wells a definition• Stages of holy well development• Holy wells the ‘accepted view’. Is there any evidence for it?

• Research so far findings• A selection of important Staffordshire sites

• The way forward

About me• I’m a teacher• Researching holy wells since the 1980s.

• Started publishing my own books in 2008.

• Now on sixth book.• Admin on the Facebook sites• Written number of articles• Run a number of blogs

Water, water everywhere!

Every village has or had wells or springs

Many are named after wellsAre they all significant?Why are some holy, others not or were they all and we’ve forgotten.

A definitionSounds easy! But it isn’t...A holy well is a spring which is someway culted and thought of as having special properties given to it by a deity or saint.

HOWEVER...many books and articles include any well associated with a mystical tradition or folklore.

Healing wells

The accepted views in Holy well research?

All holy wells have a long pre-Christian history

Every holy well survived throughout the Christian period.

Many holy wells were re-dedicated eg Pagan goddesses such as Epona re-dedicated to Our Lady, St Ann derived from Santan, St Bride from goddess Breed.

No firm evidence

No firm evidence

No firm evidence

The Stages• Pre-historic (including Roman and Celtic)• Dark age period-the term Holy derives fromhalig a Saxon word for healing or hael for healthy.• Medieval• Post-reformation-spa • Georgian• Victorian• New age Antiquarianism

The StagesPre-historic (including Roman and Celtic)

Maidens, Marian’s or Mary Well, UttoxeterWodesneswalle from Woden?Bug holes and Hob holes – from fairy folk – do they have an earlier origin?

Forton’s Roman Well

The StagesDark age period-the term Holy derives from

halig a Saxon word for healing or hael for healthy.

The StagesMedieval – 11th-16th

the majority of sites BUT not always evidence!

The StagesEarly Post-reformation-spa or mineral spring

Eg Leper’s Well, CodsallWilloughby WellsQuasi-holy wells?St Chad’s Bath

The StagesGeorgian – 18th century Spa

-Saltwell, Cradely

The StagesVictorian - Lady Well, Leek?

The StagesNew age Antiquarianism

Customs associated with wells

Why are customs and traditions interesting?

What customs and traditions are associated with wells?

What customs and traditions are associated with Staffordshire wells?

Common customs

What about Staffordshire?

ResearchEarly chronicles – Plot (1896) Natural historyCharles Hope (1893) in Legendary Lore of Holy Wells or rather

Legendary Lore of Holy wells including rivers, lakes, fountains, and Springs. Copiously illustrated by curious original woodcuts

Local folklore authors such as Fredwick William Hackwood

Terriers, estate documents, Tithes, O/S maps etc

Folk custom

s

No rag wells...what are these?

Well Dressing“They have also a custom in this county, which I observed on holy Thursday at Breewood and Bilbrook, of adorning their well with boughs and flowers: this it seems they do at all gospell- places, whether wells, trees, or hills; which being now observed only for decency and custom sake, is innocent enough. Heretofore too it was usual to pay their respect to such wells as were eminent for curing distempers, on the saint's day whose name the well bore, diverting themselves with cakes and ale, and a little musick and dancing; which, whilst within these bounds, was also an innocent recreation.” Plot (1686)“annually dressed with flowers and branches of trees, and rustic games and amusements indulged in by those attending.” Holy well Blymhill Hope (1893)

Well Pilgrimage into modern times

Well legendsQui non dat quod habet Dæmon infra ridet

“Who does not here his alms bestowAt him the demon laughs below.”

Staffordshire

dedications

Staffordshire dedications Research so far...40 holy wells include:

• Only one example – St. Bertram, St. Leonard, St. Ottillia, St. Edith, St. Catherine, St. John, St. Caena, St. Boniface, St. Andrew, St. Augustine, St. Lawrence, Nun

• Two sites – St. Modwen, Lady Wulfrun, St. Helen, St. Ruffin, St. Sunday

• Four sites –St. Chad and Holy Well. • Five – St. Anne• And the commonest dedication....is Mary with seven!

The national picture• 1 - St. Mary – 160 St. Leonard - 5• 3 - Holy Well 3403- St. Chad - 5• Other saints – 400 of which:• St Helen – 50• St John – 23• St. Thomas – 19• 2 - St. Anne – 15• St. Peter - 15• St. Andrew – 13• St. Catherine - 12

Time line of Saint lives and cults

Top Ten most interesting Staffordshire sacred and

healing springs

Ten-The Egg Well

“Renibus, et splenui cordi, jecorique medatur, Mille maelsi prodest ista salubris aqua.” “The liver, kidneys, heart’s disease these waters remedy. And by their healing powers assuage full many a malady.”

Nine-Nun’s Well

Eight-King’s Well, Ellerton

Seven- St Bertram’s Well

Six- Devil’s Well Betley

Five – Lord’s Well, Burton upon Trent

Four- St Helen’s or Daniel’s Well

Three – St Catherine’s Well, Sugnall

Two-Gawton’s Well

One-Lady’s Well, Wombourne

Hope (1893) states:“Another famous local well, which has fortunately escaped the

destructive hand of time, is that near Wombourne, known by the name of Our Lady's Well, or Lady Well. It is cut out of the solid rock, which crops out at the top of a lofty hill, situate between Wombourne and Lower Fenn. The well is of considerable antiquity, and several species of cryptogamic plants give to the surface of the stone a venerable appearance. It is supposed to have been sacred to the virgin in mediæval times, and its waters to have possessed curative properties. Here, ages ago, a holy hermit is said to have dwelt, and to have been visited by many persons in search of consolation and instruction. The well is still a favourite resort of local pleasure-seekers, who go to drink of the cooling and delicious beverage, and ruralize in the adjacent wood.”

One-Lady’s Well, Wombourne

One-Lady’s Well, Wombourne

Where to go next?Books – Holy wells and healing springs of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. Staffordshire soon!

My Blog insearchofholywellsandhealingsprings.wordpress.com

Join Facebook – Holy wells and sacred springs of Britain group

Most importantly:Get out there, celebrate the springs, restore and make them significant again. In particular....

Save the wells!St Edith’s Well, Stoke Edith...under threat!

St Ruffin’s Well, Tamworth...needs restoring!

Any questions? ROSSPARISH AT HOTMAIL.COM