When water first emerges at ground-level and comes out of the Earth, such spots are simply known as ‘springs’ of water. At such sites where people have placed stone troughs or basins, these are known as ‘wells.’ I don’t see much difference misself! Water was of primal importance to our ancestors (anyone who thinks it wasn’t is either retarded or should be put-down!), not only as the vital source of life nourishment, but also as sources of spiritual nourishment. Anyone who’s spent a lotta time in the hills, alone, will know what I mean. Our ancestors knew this much more than any of us wandering modern-folk! Indeed in every culture on Earth, until very recently, water was of the utmost importance – but in the ‘civilised’ world things have gone a bit backward, as water is now treated simply as a commodity: a belief system held by only the most retarded of folk. Many springs and wells were said to possess great healing or therapeutic properties, as evidence by chemical analyses (mainly in Victorian times, when a bittova craze on these wells was in vogue), aswell as folk tradition. To ancient societies – indeed, to myself – water is our blood, the very blood of the Earth.
HOLY WELLS & HEALING SPRINGS: Bibliography & References
- Adam’s Well, Peak Forest, Derbyshire
- Adam’s Well, Todmorden, West Yorkshire
- Ailsa Well, Bingley, West Yorkshire
- Alders Well, Hawksworth, West Yorkshire
- Ash Well, Heaton, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Ash Well, Manningham, Bradford, West Yorkshire – see Holy Ash Well
- Barrow Well, Compton Martin, Somerset
- Birkin Well, Hawksworth, West Yorkshire
- Boar Well, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Bradley Spout, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
- Bullstone’s Spring, Howden Moors, South Yorkshire
- Butt Well, Cawthorne, South Yorkshire – see Serpent Well, Cawthorne
- Butt Well, Stirling, Stirlingshire
- Calf Hey Spring, Cockden, Briercliffe, Lancashire
- Calverley Spa Well, Leeds – Healing Well
- Calverley Woods Well, Leeds – Healing Well
- Chalybeate Well, Calverley, Leeds - see Calverley Spa Well
- Christ’s Well, Falkirk, Stirlingshire
- Claymore Well, Kettleness, North Yorkshire
- Cloven Hoof Well, Shipley Glen, Baildon, West Yorkshire
- Coates Well, Calverley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- Coffin Well, Tissington, Derbyshire
- Coventina’s Well, Walwick, Northumberland
- Crag Well, Shipley Glen, Baildon, West Yorkshire
- Crag Well, Snowden, Askwith, North Yorkshire
- Crime Well, Heysham, Lancashire
- Cruckles Well, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Crutch Well, Baildon, West Yorkshire
- Diana’s Temple Well, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
- Dissenters’ Well, Kelbrook, Earby, Lancashire
- Dragon Well, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Dragon’s Well, Bolsterstone, South Yorkshire
- Dragon’s Well, Wharncliffe, South Yorkshire
- Druid’s Well, Bingley, West Yorkshire
- Ebbing & Flowing Well, Giggleswick, North Yorkshire
- Ebbing and Flowing Well, Peak Forest, Derbyshire
- Ebbing and Flowing Well, Tideswell, Derbyshire
- Elm Crag Well, Bingley, West Yorkshire
- Fag Well, Finsbury, London, Middlesex
- Fairy Well, Barrow Gurney, Somerset
- Fairy Well, Emmot Moor, Laneshaw Bridge, Lancashire
- Fairy Well, Roberttown, Liversedge, West Yorkshire
- Fairy Well, Gilstead, Bingley, West Yorkshire
- Fairy Well, Sheriffmuir, Dunblane, Stirlingshire
- Fare Well, Calverley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- Giant’s Well, St. Michael’s Mount, Penzance, Cornwall
- Giant’s Well, Trencrom, Cornwall
- Goff Well, Keighley, West Yorkshire
- Green Plain Chalybeate, Blubberhouses Moor, North Yorkshire
- Hare Well, Branston, Leicestershire
- Hart Fell Spa, Moffat, Dumfriesshire
- Hawklemass Well, Whittingham, Northumbria
- Haworth Moor Spas, Haworth, West Yorkshire
- Heber’s Ghyll Chalybeate, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Holy Ash Well, Manningham, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Holy Well, Ab Kettleby, Leicestershire
- Holy Well, Alderley Edge, Cheshire
- Holy Well, Applecross, Ross & Cromarty
- Holy Well, Atwick, East Yorkshire
- Holy Well, Branston, Leicestershire
- Holy Well, Chesterfield, Derbyshire
- Holy Well, Eccleshill, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Holy Well, Fairweather Green, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Holy Well, Helliwell, Bolton, Lancashire
- Holy Well, Hildenley, North Yorkshire
- Holy Well, Humphrey Head, Allithwaite, Cumbria
- Holy Well, Kilnwick, East Yorkshire
- Holy Well, Kings Newton, Derbyshire
- Holy Well, Kislingbury, Northamptonshire
- Holy Well, Laneast, Cornwall
- Holy Well, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire
- Holy Well, Ratby, Leicestershire
- Holy Well of Isle Maree, Loch Maree, Ross & Cromarty
- Holy Well, Todmorden, West Yorkshire
- Horncliffe Well, Hawksworth Moor, West Yorkshire
- Horse Well, Calverley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- Huntingtower Well, Perth, Perthshire
- Isle of Maree Holy Well, Loch Maree, Ross-shire
- Jacob’s Well, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Jacob’s Well, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire
- Jacob’s Well, Todmorden, West Yorkshire
- Janet’s Well, Bingley, West Yorkshire
- Jennet’s Well, Black Hill, Keighley, West Yorkshire
- Jinny Well, Newchurch-in-Pendle, Lancashire
- John’s Well, Hart Fell, Moffat, Dumfriesshire
- Judson Well, Shipley Glen, Baildon, West Yorkshire
- Keppin Well, Glanton, Northumbria
- Kirk Well, Bowling, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Lady Anne’s Well, Morley, West Yorkshire
- Lady Well, Baslow, Derbyshire
- Lady Well, Belper, Derbyshire
- Lady Well, Bowling, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Lady Well, Grimethorpe, South Yorkshire
- Lady Well, Hartshead, West Yorkshire
- Lady Well, Kilnwick, East Yorkshire
- Lady Well, Kirkby Lonsdale, Lancashire
- Lady Well, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- Lady Well, Pateley Moor, North Yorkshire
- Lady’s Well, Airth, Stirlingshire
- Lady’s Well, Goodmanham, East Yorkshire
- Lady’s Well, Ickles, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
- Lady’s Well, Roche Abbey, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
- Lee Hall Well, Bellingham, Northumberland
- Lister Well, White Moor, Barnoldswick, Lancashire
- Little John’s Well, Hathersage, Derbyshire
- Little John’s Well, Stanbury Moor, West Yorkshire
- Load Saddle Well, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Lord Edward Howard’s Spring, Howden Moors, South Yorkshire
- Lord Surry’s Spring, Howden Moors, South Yorkshire
- Lowlands Well, Wycoller, Lancashire
- Lud Well, Hartlington, Derbyshire
- Lund Well, Bingley, West Yorkshire
- Middleton Moor, Cowling, North Yorkshire
- Miley Well, Redmire, North Yorkshire
- Moor Well, East Morton, West Yorkshire
- Nanny’s Well, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire
- New Edge Chalybeate, Colden, Heptonstall, West Yorkshire
- Nursery Well, Shipley Glen, Baildon, West Yorkshire
- Oak Spring, Keighley, West Yorkshire
- Old Jam Well, Worsthorne, Lancashire
- Old Wife’s Spring, Snaizeholme, North Yorkshire
- Old Wife’s Well, Totley, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- Old Woman’s Well, Guisborough, North Yorkshire
- Our Lady’s Well, Bingley, West Yorkshire
- Our Lady’s Well, Fernyhalgh, Preston, Lancashire
- Our Lady’s Well, Oakham, Leicestershire
- Our Lady’s Well, Kirkby Lonsdale, Lancashire - see Lady Well
- Peggy Well, Riddlesden, Keighley, West Yorkshire
- Peg o’ Nell’s Well, Clitheroe, Lancashire
- Pendragon Well, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Pendragon Well, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
- Penny Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- Petrifying Well, Halifax, West Yorkshire
- Petrifying Well, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
- Petrifying Well, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire
- Petrifying Well, Sutton, North Yorkshire
- Pin Well, Humphrey Head, Allithwaite, Cumbria
- Play Well, Glanton, Northumbria
- Priesthorpe Well, Bingley, West Yorkshire
- Randall Well, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Rivock Well, Riddlesden, West Yorkshire
- Rivock Well, Silsden, West Yorkshire
- Robin Hood’s Spring, Howden Moor, South Yorkshire
- Robin Hood’s Well, Allerston High Moor, North Yorkshire
- Robin Hood’s Well, Hathersage, Derbyshire
- Robin Hood’s Well, Skelbrooke, South Yorkshire
- Robin Hood’s Well, Stanbury Moor, West Yorkshire
- Rombald’s Well, Morton Moor, West Yorkshire
- Rushy Beck Spring, Burley Moor, West Yorkshire
- St. Agnes’ Well, Cothelstone, Somerset
- St. Alban’s Well, St Albans, Hertfordshire
- St. Alkmund’s Well, Derby, Derbyshire
- St. Andrew’s Well, Shadar, Isle of Lewis
- St. Anne’s Well, Buxton, Derbyshire
- St. Anne’s Well, Morley, West Yorkshire
- St. Ann’s Well, Redmires, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- St. Ann’s Well, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
- St. Ann’s Well, Smithy Wood, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- St. Anthony’s Well, Crookes, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- St. Anthony’s Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- St. Bellarmin’s Tor Holy Well, Millpool, Cornwall
- St. Bernard’s Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- St. Catharine’s Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- St. Catharine’s Well, Loversall, South Yorkshire
- St. Columba’s Well, Eigg, Inner Hebrides
- St. Corbet’s Well, Touch Hills, Stirlingshire
- St. Cuthbert’s Well & Stone, Waverbridge, Cumbria
- St. David’s Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- St. Dominick’s Well, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
- St. Fittack’s Well, Nigg, Kincardineshire
- St. Gregory’s Well, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
- St. Gudula’s Well, Ashburton, Devon
- St. Helen’s Well, Almondbury, West Yorkshire
- St. Helen’s Well, Athersley, South Yorkshire
- St. Helen’s Well, Barnburgh, South Yorkshire
- St. Helen’s Well, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- St. Helen’s Well, Burton-in-Kendal, Cumbria
- St. Helen’s Well, Colne, Lancashire
- St. Helen’s Well, Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria
- St. Helen’s Well, Derby, Derbyshire
- St. Helen’s Well, Eshton, North Yorkshire
- St. Helen’s Well, Holbeck, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- St. Helen’s Well, Honley, West Yorkshire
- St. Helen’s Well, North Cave, East Yorkshire
- St. Helen’s Well, Ruston Spencer, Staffordshire
- St. Helen’s Well, Sefton, Lancashire
- St. Helen’s Well, South Cave, East Yorkshire
- St. Helen’s Well, Thorp Arch, Walton, West Yorkshire
- St. Helen’s Well, Whittle-le-Woods, Lancashire
- St. Ia’s Well, St. Ives, Cornwall
- St. James’ Well, Midhopestones, South Yorkshire
- St. Jennet’s Well, Black Hill, Keighley, West Yorkshire – see Jennet’s Well
- St. John’s Well, Beauchief Abbey, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- St. John’s Well, Boughton, Northamptonshire
- St. John’s Well, Caradon, Cornwall
- St. John’s Well, Harpham, East Yorkshire
- St. John’s Well, Whittington, North Yorkshire
- St. Lambert’s Well, Burneston, North Yorkshire
- St. Leonard’s Well, Dunster, Somerset
- St. Levan’s Well, Porthcurno, Cornwall
- St. Luke’s Well, Luckwell Bridge, Somerset
- St. Maelrubha’s Well, Loch Maree, Ross-shire - see Isle of Maree Holy Well
- St. Margaret’s Well, Binsey, Oxford, Oxfordshire
- St. Margaret’s Well, Edinburgh, Midlothian
- St. Mary’s Well, Bakewell, Derbyshire
- St. Mary’s Well, Hardwick Hall, Ault Hucknall, Derbyshire
- St. Mary’s Well, Newbrough, Northumberland
- St. Mary’s Well, Sawley Abbey, Downham, Lancashire
- St. Matthew’s Well, Tofts, South Yorkshire
- St. Michael’s Well, Gleaston, Cumbria
- St. Michael’s Well, Kirklington, North Yorkshire
- St. Michael’s Well, Rough Tor, Camelford, Cornwall
- St. Michael’s Well, Well, North Yorkshire
- St. Oswald’s Well, Winwick, Cheshire
- St. Osyth’s Well, St. Osyth, Essex
- St. Patrick’s Well, Carrowreagh, Donegal
- St. Patrick’s Well, Heysham, Lancashire
- St. Patrick’s Well, Slyne, Morecambe, Lancashire
- St. Peter’s Well, Doncaster, South Yorkshire
- St. Quentin’s Well, Bradway, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- St. Thomas’s Well, Cambusbarron, Stirlingshire
- St. Vincent’s Well, Cosgrove, Northamptonshire
- St. Winefride’s Well, Holywell, Flintshire
- Sainty Well, Heysham, Morecambe
- Satan’s Well, Chapel of Garioch, Aberdeenshire
- Serpent Well, Cawthorne, South Yorkshire
- Serpent’s Well, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
- Shorey Well, Burnley, Lancashire
- Silver Well, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire
- Silver Well, Little Hucklow, Derbyshire
- Skinners Well, Finsbury, London, Middlesex
- Sore Eyes Well, Eldwick, West Yorkshire
- Spa Well, Bingley, West Yorkshire
- Spink Well, Baildon Moor, West Yorkshire
- Spink Well, Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Sugar Well, Calverley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- Sweet Willy Well, Wrose, Shipley, West Yorkshire
- Tobar Mor, Tarbert, Gigha, Argyll
- Tobar na Cailleach, Keith, Banffshire
- Tobar na Gaoithe Tuath, Iona, Argyll
- Tobar na h-aoise, Iona, Argyll
- Tobar nam Buadh, St. Kilda, Outer Hebrides
- Tom Well, Stott Hill Moor, North Yorkshire
- Tomling Well, Calverley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
- True Well, Newsholme, Oakworth, West Yorkshire
- Walloper Well, Newton, Lancashire
- Well of Our Lady, Castleton, Derbyshire
- Well of the Whooping Cough, Killin, Perthshire
- Whin Knoll Well, Black Hill, Keighley, West Yorkshire
- White Wells, Ilkley, West Yorkshire
- Whooping Cough Well, Killin - see Well of the Whooping Cough
- Wig Well, Wirksworth, Derbyshire
- Will Scarlett’s Well, Stanbury Moor, West Yorkshire
- Wood Well, Shipley Glen, Baildon, West Yorkshire
- Worm Well, Fatfield, Durham
- Yew Tree Well, Tissington, Derbyshire
© Paul Bennett, The Northern Antiquarian
