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<< Our Photo Pages >> Chadwell Spring - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in England in Hertfordshire

Submitted by thorgrim on Saturday, 06 May 2006  Page Views: 18215

Springs and Holy WellsSite Name: Chadwell Spring
Country: England County: Hertfordshire Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring
Nearest Town: Ware
Map Ref: TL349136
Latitude: 51.804774N  Longitude: 0.044847W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
5 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
3 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
3

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Chadwell Spring
Chadwell Spring submitted by thorgrim : Stone to mark the source of the New River at Chadwell Spring. The water then flowed by a winding route, 40 miles to Islingon in London. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Sacred Spring in Hertfordshire

Chadwell means "cold well" and is quite ancient. Chadwell Spring is an amazing source of water. It rises in a circular basin 20 yards across and yields up to 4 million gallons daily! It is the source of the New River, which is neither a river nor a canal. It is in fact, a 40 mile long aqueduct that was dug in the 17th century. Work commenced in 1605 and the channel followed the 100 foot contour to Islington in London. The water was gravity fed, but later when many loops were cut off, pumping stations were required. The New River still delivers water to the modern ring main of London.

From HOLYWELL: St Chad's Well is located between Ware and Hertford. It can be seen from the A1170 connecting Ware to Hertford. Look for a small gateway on the right if travelling from Ware. The Chadwell is down this path, at the nearby house here one should ask permission to view the site.
It would appear that, rather than being associated with the Mercian missionary and patron saint of springs, it is a derived from O.E ceals for ‘cold’ spring, for in the middle ages, the site was called 'chaldwelle' or 'caldewelle'. The name St. Chad's Well, only appears from 1727. Its water was said to be good for eyes.
Records show that in the 13th century the Monks of Waltham were induced by Philip of Hertford to improve the water supply, doubtless for local use. This may have been one of the wells used.
However, it was during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, 1605, that an Act of Parliament was passed for the conveyance of any water from any part of Middlesex or Hertfordshire to be directed to the city Chadwell was the main source.
The spring arises in this large stone lined pool, and joins the flow from Amwell, into the New River towards London. Around the pool are the stone monuments.
An interesting piece of folklore is connected with both this site and Amwell. Recorded by William Vallens in the ‘Tale of Two Swannes’ (1589) and referred to by Cussans, it relates how the two sites were connected by an underground tunnel. It states:
‘A tale there is deliver’d unto us,
from hand to hand, how that a haunted ducke,
Diving within this chalk-well head or hole,
Was forced underneath the hollow ground,
To swimme along by wayes that be unknowne,
And afterward at Amwell Spring
(they say)
Was thrown up featherless and bare.’
This is a common folklore motif, and is often connected to mysterious caves and legends of secret tunnels. However, it has also been connected to holy wells. For example there is said to be a tunnel between Guildford Castle and St Mary’s Well, Farnham, both in Surrey. This was supposedly traversed by a goose, who also like the above tail appeared a little worse for wear the other end!
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Chadwell Spring
Chadwell Spring submitted by HOLYWELL : Another view of the chadwell monument (Vote or comment on this photo)

Chadwell Spring
Chadwell Spring submitted by HOLYWELL : A better view of the Chadwell springhead from the road. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Chadwell Spring
Chadwell Spring submitted by HOLYWELL : A better view of the springhead of Chadwell (Vote or comment on this photo)

Chadwell Spring
Chadwell Spring submitted by thorgrim : Four million gallons a day still flow from Chadwell Spring. It provides a wonderful wet land habitat even though most of the water is channelled into the New River to supply London's water. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Chadwell Spring
Chadwell Spring submitted by thorgrim : The water rises from Chadwell Springs into the pool on the right known as "the Banjo" (Vote or comment on this photo)

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 2.5km ESE 117° Emma's Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (TL372125)
 6.4km NNE 15° Lunardi Stone* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (TL364198)
 9.1km ESE 122° Harlow Puddingstone* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (TL428090)
 9.6km WNW 292° Perry's Grove Boundary Ditch* Misc. Earthwork (TL25851700)
 9.7km NNE 26° Standon Puddingstone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (TL390224)
 10.1km S 183° Flamstead Puddingstone Marker Stone (TL346035)
 10.7km NE 44° Caley Wood Misc. Earthwork (TL422215)
 11.0km SW 233° Wildhill Puddingstone Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (TL263067)
 11.0km SSE 154° Galley Hill Puddingstone Marker Stone (TL400038)
 11.2km SSE 162° Holyfield Puddingstone* Marker Stone (TL38670303)
 11.3km SSE 163° Monkham Puddingstone Marker Stone (TL384029)
 11.5km WSW 252° Mill Green Museum Museum (TL240097)
 11.7km WNW 284° Welwyn Roman Baths* Ancient Village or Settlement (TL23451602)
 12.0km WNW 284° Welwyn Puddingstone* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (TL231162)
 12.2km SE 144° Parvills Puddingstone* Marker Stone (TL424039)
 12.9km SW 218° Griffin's Hole* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (TL2720403249)
 13.0km ESE 102° Harlow Cursus Cursus (TL477112)
 13.1km ESE 102° Harlow Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (TL478112)
 13.1km ESE 102° Matching Cursus Cursus (TL47791113)
 14.1km SSE 150° Upshire Stone* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (TL424016)
 14.2km SE 125° Thornwood Puddingstone Marker Stone (TL468058)
 14.3km SE 138° Epping Bury puddingstone* Marker Stone (TL44790322)
 15.0km ENE 75° Wallbury Camp* Hillfort (TL493178)
 15.0km NW 314° Six Hills* Round Barrow(s) (TL23742365)
 15.2km ESE 120° Canes Puddingstone Marker Stone (TL483064)
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"Chadwell Spring" | Login/Create an Account | 5 News and Comments
  
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Re: Chadwell Spring by Anonymous on Thursday, 24 August 2006
Hi,

I am looking for a well in Hertfordshire and I came across this page. It is a very informative site!

Regarding the Chadwell Spring, I was wondering is it open to the public and is the water drinkable? Any other info would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance

John!
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Chadwell Spring by expatpete on Saturday, 06 May 2006
(User Info | Send a Message)
Hey Thorgrim

What a nasty reminder of my criminal past !!!

I was fined 5 shillings in 1953 for fishing in the New River without a licence!!
My Mum paid the fine and gave me a clip around the ear ! Ha Ha Ha

[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Chadwell Spring by Thorgrim on Saturday, 06 May 2006
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    Well - I knew that they transported felons to the colonies for minor crimes, but that does seem a bit harsh. Is that how you got to be an ex-pat, Pete?
    [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Chadwell Spring by expatpete on Monday, 08 May 2006
      (User Info | Send a Message)
      At the time it appeared to be a major crime!!
      Was caught by the same bailiff 3 times ! Ha Ha Ha
      Sorry to disappoint you re- transported felon,but have been ex pat by choice for the last 35 years semi retired now but still fishing ( legally)- operating a charter boat out of Kao Lak Thailand!
      And Yes! (before the complaints come in ) I enforce a strict "catch -tag for research- and release policy (except for the occasional non endangered species for the BBQ!)

      All the best

      Pete
      [ Reply to This ]
      Re: Chadwell Spring by Thorgrim on Monday, 08 May 2006
      (User Info | Send a Message)
      Sounds great. Can you use an ancient mariner as cabin boy?
      [ Reply to This ]

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