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<< Our Photo Pages >> St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in England in County Durham

Submitted by kiwiBetsy on Wednesday, 01 December 2004  Page Views: 14727

Springs and Holy WellsSite Name: St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham)
Country: England
NOTE: This site is 0.111 km away from the location you searched for.

County: County Durham Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring
Nearest Town: Durham
Map Ref: NZ2727642218
Latitude: 54.774144N  Longitude: 1.577516W
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
4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
1 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.
1 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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Anne T visited on 30th Apr 2017 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 2 Access: 4 St. Cuthbert's Well, Durham: We had difficulty in locating this well from the 6 digit grid reference, so I've updated it with the official 10 digit reference from Pastscape. From the Galilee Well, we took the steps/sloping path down to the riverside, then walked up and down, down and up, past the Old Fulling Mill to Prebend Bridge and back. Mystified by the grid reference, I stood with my phone looking up notes on the internet, trying to get a better grid reference. We knew it was near some steep steps, thanks to the entry by kiwiBetsy, but had difficulty locating the exact site. We must have looked so lost that two passing students heading to the Boat House asked us where we were looking for, but couldn't help, shrugged and walked off! In the end, husband Andrew ran back up the footpath towards the city and spotted this structure half way up the hillside. There are two sets of steps to it – one almost from the path running next to the river (although these are now so overgrown that the path has disappeared in places); the second set of steps runs from the well structure back up to the cathedral. There was a flow of water, but a trickle. Against the side of the footpath there was a second well structure, perhaps tapping the water so people who couldn’t make it up the steps could get water.

St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham)
St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) submitted by kiwiBetsy : St Cuthbert's Well .... well neglected. (Vote or comment on this photo)
St Cuthbert’s Well in Durham is to be found and reached with great difficulty some way down the steep bank between the Cathedral and the River Wear, near the Museum of Archaeology. Three different paths lead to it but, in May 2003, all were in a severe state of crumble and essentially closed off to all but the very determined.

What we found after a scramble was the largest sandstone surround of any well in Britain and a significant amount of rubbish and graffiti.

The arch over the actual well bore the inscription "Fons: Cuthbert" and the date 1600 (or perhaps 1660) and the reason that I’m in the picture is to camouflage the worst of the graffiti.

St Cuthbert’s body was brought to Durham in 995 AD, 120 years after monks first fled with it from Lindisfarne to escape the Vikings. He now lies secure in the Cathedral above this well dedicated to him.

We have been able to find out very little about the well except an interesting comment that it seems strange that such an imposing structure should have so little known about it and that the water supply had diminished since extension work on the nearby university library. There was certainly a good flow of water when we were there.


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St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham)
St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) submitted by Anne T : Just below the main well, this second structure sits right by the riverside walk. Behind the stone structure is a deep chamber, now dry, but looks as if it held water (from the well above?) (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham)
St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) submitted by Anne T : Standing on the steps leading from the well up towards the cathedral, looking back at the well housing. (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham)
St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) submitted by Anne T : A close up of the well chamber itself, showing a slow trickle of water. (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham)
St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) submitted by Anne T : A close up of the inscription, which Pastscape (Monument No 24477) says reads: FONS CUTHBERT 1690) (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham)
St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) submitted by Anne T : Almost at the top of the steps it becomes obvious how dirty and uncared for this well is. Such as shame, as it is said "to have the largest stone surround of any holy well in the county." (from Ancient, Healing and Holy Wells of County Durham by Laurence Hunt).

St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham)
St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) submitted by Anne T : First view of St. Cuthbert's Well from half way up the steps leading up from the riverside walk to the well.

St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham)
St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) submitted by durhamnature : The treacherous steps back down to the riverside path. Site in County Durham England

St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham)
St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) submitted by durhamnature : Drinking fountain formerly fed from the well. Site in County Durham England

St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham)
St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) submitted by durhamnature : 2012 view Site in County Durham England

St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham)
St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) submitted by durhamnature : 2012 picture Site in County Durham England

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
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"St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham)" | Login/Create an Account | 5 News and Comments
  
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Re: St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) by Anonymous on Monday, 22 January 2018
I never knew this website was here. great resource. many years ago as a lad I was exploring this area with a pal of mine and found this well under a lot of ivy and bramble etc.. It wasn't visible from the path then. Approximately 1986/7

We asked someone in the fulling mill what it was and they didn't seem sure and soon after it was uncovered, then later it had some repairs done and steps put in (prior it was hand and feet scramble up to it).

I must visit it again sometime.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) by Anonymous on Thursday, 07 August 2014
Visited on 7th August 2014.

Clean and grafitti free, with a strong flow of water.

Lots of broken glass around, so be careful. Only accesible from the lower river path, not from above, due to overgrown brambles. The steps are very crumbly, but took my weight fine. Use the handrail just to be sure!

A beautiful spot and such a shame that it is in a state of disrepair. Fingers crossed for the future.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) by durhamnature on Sunday, 23 September 2012
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Visited on 23rd September 2012. There was a little water jetting from the well head.

The well has been fenced off from the main footpaths. From the cathedral, the old route is hardly visible, as it is overgrown with brambles. If you find it, be prepared for a 80 cm drop where the steps have gone. This well is easier to find from below. From the Fulling Mill Museum, go north (downstream) for a few meters until you see the small drinking fountain in one of my photographs. St Cuthberts Well is directly above this, by a scramble through bushes and onto a crumbling set of steps with some steps loose and some missing. Be careful. You can exit uphill, with another short scramble and a duck under a fence, bringing you out on a proper path close to the Galilee Well.

Its hard to believe that this is a World Heritage Site, and that Cuthbert is such an important saint in Durham. Shame on the managers of this site.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) by grumpyhippy on Friday, 04 September 2009
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Visited 3.9.09.
Still difficult access, the steps from the 'Riverside walk' could be so easily restored, but are passable with care.
Strangely neglected part of Durham's Castle+Cathedral tourist trail.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: St Cuthbert's Well (County Durham) by wearwolf on Friday, 10 October 2008
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Visited: 8th October 2008 - Comments above still applicable.

Path/steps totally closed - with the added difficulty of a tree having fallen over them as well ! The determined and able-bodied can still make it, though!

Incidentally, there apparently are plans to renovate the whole riverside area, hopefully access will be restored. Eventually.

Otherwise- still a magnet for graffiti and rubbish.

Still a steady flow of water.
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