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Wells, Holy and Otherwise

Demonic Frogs

Location: Acton Burnell (Shropshire) - Frog Well
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Still present?
Further Comments: The Devil and three imps are said to live here, manifesting in the form of frogs. While the imps are happy to be seen, Old Nick takes the form of a larger frog and spends most of the time hiding away.

Wishing Well

Location: Alnwick (Northumberland) - Pin Well (was in parkland, not known if it still exists)
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Tradition said that your wishes would come true if you walk three times around the well before leaping across it and dropping in a pin.


A reflection in the Well of the Omen.

Shadows in the Water

Location: Ardpatrick (County Limerick) - St. Patrick's Well, close to top of a hill
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: 'The Well of the Omen' by Dr Robert Dwyer Joyce states of this well 'Within it gaze the peasants to see what may befall: Who see their shadows down below, they will have merry cheer: Who see not any shadows shall die within the year'.

Robin's Well

Location: Aynho (Northamptonshire) - Spring known as Puck Well
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Nineteenth century, current status unknown
Further Comments: Robin Goodfellow and his friends were thought to frequent this spring.

John the Baptist

Location: Ballycotton (County Cork) - St. John's well
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Well still present
Further Comments: A rock near the well was said to be the head of John the Baptist, which slowly turned to stone and was weathered by the elements over time.

Gobhnet

Location: Ballyvourney (County Cork) - St. Gobnait's Well (still present) and area surrounding
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Fifth century
Further Comments: Gobhnet (or Gobnait) was a nun who built an oratory on the site where she stumbled upon nine white deer. She kept bees that doubled as her protectors, chasing away thieves. The well on the site is still a site of pilgrimage, who tend to visit on 11 February.

Blue Lights Dance

Location: Bawburgh (Norfolk) - Church
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 30 May (Reoccurring)
Further Comments: Blue lights are said to appear and dance over the church well.

Golden Table

Location: Bere Regis (Dorset) - Woodbury Hill hillfort
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The Anchoret's Well, found within the hillfort, was believed to have a golden table (or tablet) hidden under the waters.

Moving Well

Location: Berrings (County Cork) - Stoney Pew Line Well (no longer visible?)
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The Stoney Pew Line Well was considered a holy well and was said to have once been in the parish of Donoughmore. A local woman with no respect for religion went to wash four potatoes in its waters, so the well arose and moved itself four miles to Berrings.

Waters of Luck

Location: Bertley (Northumberland) - Village well (may no longer exist)
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Nineteenth century
Further Comments: Miners would visit this well during the early hours of New Year's Day to fill their flasks, as it was believed any household which housed the water throughout the year would have luck bestowed upon it.

Blind Algar

Location: Binsey (Oxfordshire) - Holy Well
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Well still present
Further Comments: Algar was blinded after being stoned for touching the hand of the woman he loved. He prayed to St Margaret for help, and she give him the well that restored his sight.

Cursing Well

Location: Bishops Lydeard (Somerset) - The Devil's Whispering Well (close to Bell Inn)
Type: Other
Date / Time: Still present?
Further Comments: This perverted wishing well is traditionally used to harm others.

Animated Figures

Location: Brackley (Northamptonshire) - St Peter's Church
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Midnight (reoccurring)
Further Comments: The stone figures standing over the west door climb down when the clock strikes twelve, crossing the churchyard to drink from a nearby well.

Invaders' Blood

Location: Brading (Isle of Wight) - Bloodstone Well
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: The red marks on the stones at the bottom of the well were once believed to be the blood of Danes and English who once fought here.

Never-ending Flow

Location: Brading (Isle of Wight) - Harbour
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The harbour was created when a warlock attempted to recover lost treasure from a well - the well's guardian was angered and caused the water to ceaselessly flow.

Hang Proof

Location: Bridge (Cornwall) - St Ruth's Well
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: A local legend says that any child baptized in the well water here will not be hanged.

Parry

Location: Bristol (Somerset) - Parry's Lane
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The lane takes its name from a well which once stood in the area, where a man Parry slit his own throat. His ghost remained in the area for many years after the death.

Lady in Grey

Location: Buckfastleigh (Devon) - King's Arms public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This lady died by falling down a well that was once on the site, preventing her from meeting her lover. She is still waiting.

Golden Table

Location: Buckland Newton (Dorset) - Dungeon Hill Hillfort (private land)
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A deep well near the hillfort was said to contain a golden table - a recovery attempt caused a minor earth tremor, so work was stopped.

Robin's Home

Location: Burghwallis (Yorkshire) - Robin Hood's Well
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The well marks the area where Barnsdale Forest once stood; a huge expense of woodland suitable for a rogue's hideaway.

Cure for a Cough

Location: Callington (Cornwall) - Dupath Well
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: This well is reported to cure whooping cough.


Carisbrooke Castle, Isle of Wight.

Dog Walker

Location: Carisbrooke (Isle of Wight) - Carisbrooke Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This grey lady has been seen walking her dog around the moat of this ruin - it is unknown whether the same spirit is also the face which has been seen down the well. The inside of the castle is also haunted, by another woman, this time in a long cloak, walking four, tiny dogs on chain leashes.

No Hanging

Location: Carn Brea (Cornwall) - Well
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: With its waters tainted with magical properties, no one who bathed in this well would be hanged, so they said.

Buttoncap

Location: Carrickfergus (County Antrim) - Carrickfergus Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Affectionately known as Buttoncap, named after the large button worn on his headdress, this spooky soldier haunts a small area near an old well. Another version of the story says the ghost can be found in the well. The soldier's life ended when he was executed after being falsely accused of sleeping with his commanding officer's wife.

Winged Serpent

Location: Cawthorne (Yorkshire) - Cawthorn Park region
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A winged serpent dwelt in Serpent's Well and would between the area and Cawthorn Park.

Records 1 - 25 of 129

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