List of Holy Wells in Cumbria

There are at least 70 existing holy wells in Cumbria that were once venerated and believed to have the ability to cure certain illnesses.[1]

The following is a list of notable holy wells in Cumbria.

Name Image Location Nearest settlement Notes References
St Andrew's Well 54°55′02″N 3°00′34″W / 54.917090°N 3.009468°W / 54.917090; -3.009468 (St Andrew's Well) Kirkandrews-on-Eden As the well is located in a churchyard, it was probably used for baptisms. It is medieval in origin. [2][3][4][5]
St Cuthbert's Well 54°40′55″N 2°40′40″W / 54.682056°N 2.677752°W / 54.682056; -2.677752 (St Cuthbert's Well) Edenhall According to local legend, a group of fairies were interrupted whilst drinking from the well, and they left behind a medieval glass cup, which is known as the "Luck of Edenhall". [6][7][8]
St Helen's Well 54°30′50″N 2°29′35″W / 54.5138°N 2.4931°W / 54.5138; -2.4931 (St Helen's Well) Great Asby The well is a grade II listed building. The stone enclosure likely dates from the 19th century. [9][10]
Holy Well 54°09′27″N 2°56′08″W / 54.157363°N 2.935449°W / 54.157363; -2.935449 (Holy Well) Lower Allithwaite Miners in the area regarded the well as possessing healing properties of some kind. At some point, the well was possibly dedicated to St Agnes. [11][12][13][14]
St Michael's Well 55°00′02″N 2°58′20″W / 55.0005°N 2.9723°W / 55.0005; -2.9723 (St Michael's Well) Arthuret This well probably dates from the 17th century. [15][16]
St Ninian's Well 54°51′34″N 2°54′03″W / 54.8595°N 2.9009°W / 54.8595; -2.9009 (St Ninian's Well) Briscoe The well and wellhead are grade II listed. The well itself is ancient, but the wellhead dates from the 19th century, when it was restored by Sarah Losh. [17][18][19][20]
St Mungo's Well 54°48′44″N 3°17′01″W / 54.8122°N 3.2836°W / 54.8122; -3.2836 (St Mungo's Well) Bromfield The wellhead is a grade II listed structure; it was built in 1878. The well itself dates from the medieval period. [21][22]
St Patrick's Well 54°32′28″N 2°56′53″W / 54.541121°N 2.9480724°W / 54.541121; -2.9480724 (St Patrick's Well) Patterdale The original well was probably located in a slightly different place to where it is today. The present wellhouse was constructed at some point in the 18th century. [23][24]

References

  1. ↑ "The lost magic of our holy wells". Whitehaven News. 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  2. ↑ "Old Cumbria Gazetteer - St Andrew's Well, Kirkandrews upon Eden". www.lakesguides.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  3. ↑ "St Andrew's Well :: Survey of English Place-Names". epns.nottingham.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  4. ↑ "St Andrew's Well (Kirkandrews-on-Eden)". The Megalithic Portal.
  5. ↑ "Heritage Gateway - Results". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  6. ↑ "History". Edenhall Estate. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  7. ↑ "Old Cumbria Gazetteer - St Cuthbert's Well, Edenhall". www.lakesguides.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  8. ↑ "St Cuthbert's Well (Edenhall Park)". The Megalithic Portal.
  9. ↑ "ST HELEN'S WELL TO SOUTH OF ST HELEN'S ALMSHOUSES, Asby - 1137163 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  10. ↑ "St Helen's Well, Great Asby – Out of Oblivion". outofoblivion.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  11. ↑ "Old Cumbria Gazetteer - Holy Well, Lower Allithwaite". www.lakesguides.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  12. ↑ "Heritage Gateway - Results". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  13. ↑ "Holy Well (Humphrey Head) - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in England in Cumbria". The Megalithic Portal.
  14. ↑ "Holy Well, Humphrey Head, Allithwaite, Cumbria". www.thenorthernantiquarian.org. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  15. ↑ Stuff, Good. "St Michael's Well, North West of Church of St Michael, Longtown, Cumbria". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  16. ↑ "ST MICHAEL'S WELL, NORTH WEST OF CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL, Arthuret - 1335611 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  17. ↑ "Old Cumbria Gazetteer - St Ninian's Well, Brisco". www.lakesguides.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  18. ↑ "Heritage Gateway - Results". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  19. ↑ "ST NINIAN'S WELL, St. Cuthbert Without - 1087745 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  20. ↑ Stuff, Good. "St Ninian's Well, St Cuthbert Without, Cumbria". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  21. ↑ "ST MUNGO'S WELL, Bromfield - 1276083 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  22. ↑ Stuff, Good. "St Mungo's Well, Bromfield, Cumbria". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  23. ↑ "St Patricks Well Then and Now". www.ullswatermemorial.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  24. ↑ "Old Cumbria Gazetteer - St Patrick's Well, Patterdale". www.lakesguides.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
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