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The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Native American Indian Mounds

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Holy Well (Biddestone) - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in England in Wiltshire

Submitted by KiwiBetsy on Wednesday, 13 September 2006  Page Views: 39092

Springs and Holy WellsSite Name: Holy Well (Biddestone) Alternative Name: Starwell
Country: England
NOTE: This site is 2.771 km away from the location you searched for.

County: Wiltshire Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring
Nearest Town: Chippenham  Nearest Village: Biddestone
Map Ref: ST8802772733
Latitude: 51.453450N  Longitude: 2.1737W
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
3 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
3 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
5

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Ramblesnbrambles visited on 29th Dec 2019 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4

4clydesdale7 visited on 28th Aug 2012 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 3 Access: 3 Getting a bit threadbare - too many visitors - be patient you will find a star stone but then don't be greedy - farmer's permission should be sought - it is on the north side of the fast flowing and quite deep brook and just under the 'bend' in the power lines



Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3.5 Ambience: 3.5 Access: 3.5

Holy Well (Biddestone)
Holy Well (Biddestone) submitted by KiwiBetsy : The Starwell is quite a large spring that flows from a slope and into a small stream. If you are lucky you may find one of the tiny star shaped fossils (crinoids) which give the spring one of it’s names. These fossils are freed from the underlying rock by the water, carried to the surface and deposited in the silty bed of the spring. We spent some time sifting about in the icy water (closely ... (Vote or comment on this photo)
Holy Well or Sacred Spring in Wiltshire.
The Starwell is quite a large spring that flows from a slope and into a small stream. If you are lucky you may find one of the tiny star shaped fossils (crinoids) which give the spring one of it’s names. These fossils are freed from the underlying rock by the water, carried to the surface and deposited in the silty bed of the spring. We spent some time sifting about in the icy water (closely watched by a herd of curious cows) but found only a few modern coins, no doubt left by previous visitors. A nearby resident said that over the years she had found several stars. Local legend tells that the stars are fossilised elderflowers.

This holy well lies between Biddestone and Chippenham in a field north of the crossroads by Stowell Farm and almost under the line of electricity pylons. There is no right of way across the field and Wellington boots are a good idea. Asking at Stowell Farm gets you not only permission but also directions.
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Holy Well (Biddestone)
Holy Well (Biddestone) submitted by KiwiBetsy : The Starwell has obviously had some structure around it in previous times as many shaped blocks lie about it. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Holy Well (Biddestone)
Holy Well (Biddestone) submitted by 4clydesdale7 : Unfortunately the Starwell is beginning to suffer from its popularity - hopefully it will recover naturally (Vote or comment on this photo)

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Nearby Images from Geograph Britain and Ireland:
ST8872 : Holy Well, nr Chippenham by victoria lee
by victoria lee
©2009(licence)
ST8872 : 2008 : Tractor near Stowell Farm by Maurice Pullin
by Maurice Pullin
©2008(licence)
ST8872 : 2008 : Pasture near Stowell Farm by Maurice Pullin
by Maurice Pullin
©2008(licence)
ST8872 : Pylons marching across Wiltshire by Chris Henley
by Chris Henley
©2006(licence)
ST8772 : Fields and Lane by Derek Hawkins
by Derek Hawkins
©2007(licence)

The above images may not be of the site on this page, they are loaded from Geograph.
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"Holy Well (Biddestone)" | Login/Create an Account | 10 News and Comments
  
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Re: Holy Well (Biddestone) by Anonymous on Wednesday, 21 February 2024
I went there yesterday with my dog jeff and had a nice chilled out time in the sunshine at this sacred place on the 20th feb 2024 andy the witchyman
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Holy Well (Biddestone) by Anonymous on Tuesday, 22 November 2022
I go to the starwell a few times a year with my dog jeff and find it a peaceful sacred place. I used to take my last 2 dogs there. andy the witchyman
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Holy Well (Biddestone) by Anonymous on Saturday, 15 June 2019
Wonderful place to find, we got permission from the farm and he very kindly gave us directions. Myself, husband and two girls age 9 and 5 took a very muddy walk, once we set our eyes on it, we got excited and started sieving! We weren’t sure if we’d see any, but we did on the third scoop and it was very exciting, we collected a few and put a few back in for the next adventurer. Be careful where you walk as it is beginning to suffer from so many visitors, so treat it as precious land.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Holy Well (Biddestone) by Anonymous on Thursday, 28 December 2017
It is said on full moons that the fairies & water nymphs come out of the well & dance & sing to natures tune, but if disturbed disappear because being caught they fear. written by Andrew Williams. on the 28/12/17/.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Holy Well (Biddestone) by Anonymous on Sunday, 12 June 2016
I have visited this location many time and every time I have found some you do have to look very closely but they are there.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Holy Well (Biddestone) by Anonymous on Thursday, 25 February 2016
I go to the starwell a few times a year normally cycling back from lanhill longbarrow and find it a nice little haven. I first went there in 2010. Once I saw the star shaped fossils there in the water.
andy stage name-thewitchyman.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Holy Well (Biddestone) by Chris27 on Friday, 17 May 2013
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I grew up in Corsham and recall being told a local legend that the stars appeared when a passing Saint (I am not sure who but it could've been Thomas A Becket), drank from the well on his pilgrimage to Glastonbury and blessed the water. I have yet to find any other reference to this legend on the internet.
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Re: Holy Well (Biddestone) by Anonymous on Sunday, 17 June 2012
We visited Holy Well in Biddestone with the Grandchildren over the jubilee weekend. We found about 14 star fossils in the 30 minutes we were searching. As we have lived near here for many years, we knew what to look for. The stars are tiny and you do need to sift through all the grit and sludge. Not a pleasant job as many cows use this area but fun.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Holy Well (Biddestone) by Anonymous on Monday, 29 June 2009
does anyone no the mineral counts and stuff of this well as it would be good to know as freinds of mine lives off tis water supply.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Holy Well (Biddestone) by Anonymous on Saturday, 04 October 2008
The position given fort he holy well is slightly out. Actual position is 51°27'12.36"N -2°10'25.29"W or ST 88027 72733 on the OS 1:25000 exploer maps. It is clearly marked as the "Holy Well". John Aubrey's natural history of Wiltshire mentions this site "East of Bitteston...is a spring - they call it a holy well, - where five-pointed stones doe bubble up (Astreites) which doe move in vinegar." There is also an excellent web page with futher details http://people.bath.ac.uk/liskmj/wells/wilts/starwell.htm
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