<< Our Photo Pages >> Whitewell Woods Well - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in England in Devon
Submitted by Maia on Thursday, 08 July 2010 Page Views: 14641
Springs and Holy WellsSite Name: Whitewell Woods Well Alternative Name: White WellCountry: England
NOTE: This site is 1.358 km away from the location you searched for.
County: Devon Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring
Nearest Town: Teignmouth Nearest Village: Bishopsteignton
Map Ref: SX913749
Latitude: 50.563709N Longitude: 3.536105W
Condition:
| 5 | Perfect |
| 4 | Almost Perfect |
| 3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
| 2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
| 1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
| 0 | No data. |
| -1 | Completely destroyed |
| 5 | Superb |
| 4 | Good |
| 3 | Ordinary |
| 2 | Not Good |
| 1 | Awful |
| 0 | No data. |
| 5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
| 4 | Short walk on a footpath |
| 3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
| 2 | A long walk |
| 1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
| 0 | No data. |
| 5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
| 4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
| 3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
| 2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
| 1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
| 0 | no data |
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I have visited· I would like to visit
Mabel_Smith visited on 26th Nov 2018 - their rating: Cond: 2 Amb: 4 Access: 2 Very easy to find if you go in from the small car park rather than through the woods, the best path from Bishopsteignton is via the steep public footpath on the corner of Berry Hill and Teignview Road. Follow this path all the way to the road at the top of the hill and go right towards the golf course until you reach the Gypsy Corner sign post, carry on to the right until you see a height restricting barrier marking the entrance to the car park on the right. Pass through the car park towards the information board and take the footpath passing a picnic bench on your left, DON'T follow the sign guiding you to the left, keep to the right down the hill where there are two overgrown paths leading into the woods. Both paths will get you there, the left path is straighter but steeper and more overgrown whereas the right path is windier and uneven. The ground around the well is uneven and muddy so take care and wear your wellies! Interestingly the ground here is full of white flint, possibly the source of the name White Well. Despite the awful damage done by vandals a few years ago to the stonework of the well and Victorian pump house, the atmosphere here is rather lovely, a good place to contemplate in peace, I will bring a folding chair next time so I can meditate for longer.
The unusual 'mushroom' design housing was constructed above the surface to protect and gather the natural spring water supply that bubbles up through white sand from the water table under Little Haldon Hill. There are 7 springs that emerge from the Hill, most with well housings from different eras.
The construction is local red sandstone shaped to fit the circular design. A topping stone used to be present, and was said to be white. Old pictures show it to be similar to a used mill stone made from grit stone, and may be recycled from the Bishop's many farming activities. If the stone is used for flour grinding in an upright rolling position, it would wear away to the shape as seen in old photos.
Access is allowed because although it is on private land, it is a Public Right of Way. Best path into the woods is from Council owned car park 'Whitewells' easily found near to Teignmouth Golf Course. Car height restrictions are in force. From the car park descend the steep hill on the left hand side of the woods, after about 150m take the only main level track to the right. The Well and now ruined Pump House are on the left hand side of this path after about 100m.
Other features of interest in this fabulous deciduous woodland are earthworks, said to be C19th flint quarries, but we think they are much older. There are also banks resembling neolithic construction, leading to an iron age fort, and there are small burial mounds 'incorporated' in the nearby golf course....
Damage by vandals has been a great cause for concern in 2010 as this is increasing the likelihood of complete ruin to both the well and a nearby C19th pump house.
This site is still well worth visiting, and advice and guidance on restoration of the buildings will be gladly received. It is a delightful small natural woodland within a huge area of FC conifer planting, and as such is a wildlife haven, with rare Devon tree species.
Note: Serious vandalism to the structure of this well, see photo
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