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Monuments and Landscape in Atlantic Europe, Scarre

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<< Our Photo Pages >> St Petrock's Well Devon - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in England in Devon

Submitted by HOLYWELL on Tuesday, 08 October 2019  Page Views: 9792

Springs and Holy WellsSite Name: St Petrock's Well Devon Alternative Name: St Petroc's Well
Country: England County: Devon Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring
 Nearest Village: Petrocstowe
Map Ref: SS4095912219
Latitude: 50.887507N  Longitude: 4.262483W
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
2 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.
4 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
4

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St Petrock's Well Devon
St Petrock's Well Devon submitted by SiC : Sample of the many pottery shards uncovered at the well, Newton St Petrock. (Vote or comment on this photo)
St. Petrock's Well in Devon is difficult to trace despite being marked on the OS map. The site is associated with the saint on his journey to Rome.

Page originally submitted by HOLYWELL

Note: In September 2019, the Friends of Berry Castle archaeology group worked to restore the ancient lost well. See the comments below on this page for more details.
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St Petrock's Well Devon
St Petrock's Well Devon submitted by SiC : Since our original test pit dig, in 2019, the North side was beginning to fall in. With a few volunteers, we rebuilt the wall and pulled back the overhanging soil and vegetation, to avoid it falling in again. We hope to pull back the edges, all the way around and maybe open up the original cobbled 'platform' above it. (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Petrock's Well Devon
St Petrock's Well Devon submitted by SiC : The well from the South side. Where the silt has moved down, the blue clay can be seen. The water comes up from the bottom, in at least 7 places, as well as 3 points on the North side. (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Petrock's Well Devon
St Petrock's Well Devon submitted by SiC : This quartz 'tile' was found in the lower pavement/drainage channel. (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Petrock's Well Devon
St Petrock's Well Devon submitted by SiC : Beginning to clear the vegetation from the well. (Vote or comment on this photo)

St Petrock's Well Devon
St Petrock's Well Devon submitted by SiC : Looking down into the well.

St Petrock's Well Devon
St Petrock's Well Devon submitted by SiC : The newly uncovered well of St Petrock.

St Petrock's Well Devon
St Petrock's Well Devon submitted by HOLYWELL : The spring head I assumed is in the rough area of land virtually lost!

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 4.2km SE 134° Devil's Stone, Shebbear* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SS43880925)
 5.8km NNW 332° Wrangworthy Cross* Barrow Cemetery (SS384174)
 6.7km SSE 167° Holemoor Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SS423057)
 7.3km WSW 247° High Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SS3410209563)
 8.6km W 280° St Peter's Well (Bradworthy)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SS325139)
 10.0km WSW 240° Ugworthy Beacon Barrows* Round Barrow(s) (SS3217607440)
 10.5km NE 43° Coverney Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SS484196)
 10.6km SW 216° Holsworthy St Peter’s Well Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SS345038)
 10.8km E 97° Heathmoor Barrow* Barrow Cemetery (SS517105)
 12.2km NNW 344° Peppercombe Castle Hillfort (SS379240)
 12.4km SSE 162° Halwill Great Barrows* Barrow Cemetery (SS4449200306)
 12.8km ESE 118° Hatherleigh St. Mary's Well Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SS5213105847)
 12.9km S 170° Halwill Churchyard Cross* Ancient Cross (SX4272799412)
 12.9km S 170° Halwill Village Cross* Ancient Cross (SX4275199393)
 13.2km NE 38° Berry Castle (Huntshaw Wood)* Hillfort (SS49502228)
 14.2km W 270° Taylors Cross Tumuli* Round Barrow(s) (SS2669012535)
 14.3km WNW 299° Gorvin West Barrows* Round Barrow(s) (SS2859519471)
 15.0km NW 317° Clovelly Dykes* Hillfort (SS311235)
 15.0km SW 215° Affaland Moor Bowl Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SS3196200184)
 15.3km WNW 285° Woolley Long Barrow* Long Barrow (SS2627516605)
 15.7km W 275° Wrasford Moor Barrow Cemetary* Barrow Cemetery (SS2529114170)
 15.8km ENE 71° Combe Wood Hillfort (SS561169)
 16.1km SSE 156° Three Barrows, Patchacott* Barrow Cemetery (SX4693097301)
 16.3km ESE 117° Hatherleigh St. John's Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SS5523104363)
 16.8km WNW 297° Bursdon Moor Barrow Cemetery* Round Barrow(s) (SS2611220257)
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"St Petrock's Well Devon" | Login/Create an Account | 6 News and Comments
  
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St Petrock's Well Dig overview by Andy B on Tuesday, 08 October 2019
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SiC writes, on behalf of the Friends of Berry Castle archaeology group: What first began as a small-scale dig, has given us many surprises along the way. Our initial preconceived ideas of the well, being a small stone-lined hole in the ground, have been literally blown out of the water. From the first visit, we realised that this was not what we were expecting. Rather than a standard well, this appears to be more of a plunge pool. Uncovered and clearing back the vegetation, has given us a better overall view of the well, although the dig has raised many more questions.
This dig was intended to investigate the possibility of a stone platform above the well and restore the well, for the community to come together over.

These objectives have been reached, but without any finds which can help us date the well itself, we are still having to make educated guesses, rather than establishing hard facts. But this is often the way with any archaeological excavation; can we ever really definitely know what people thought, or how they used a site, many centuries ago?

The trenches sides showed no signs of changing layers (contexts), which was unexpected. Although there were obvious signs of stone being dumped around the well, (as with many agricultural fields) there wasn’t a significant change in levels, from the natural gradient of the field.

The level of the possible stone platform was the same as the top of the surrounding stone wall of the well, suggesting that these were related. However, dating is not known. It makes sense that there was a solid surface to stand on, for onlookers, when baptisms were taking place. Standing inside the well, the platform would be around head height.

The pathway of stones, leading round the South side of the well, was just below today’s surface level, descending to the entrance of the well. Having not dug down, below these stones, we can’t tell if there was another, previous set of steps, underneath. This is something to investigate further, once we have an archaeologist to advise.

The shards of N Devon pottery, which were found littering the site (dated between 300-500 yrs old), would be expected, as people would have filled bowls and jugs with the water. However, this well has always been seen as a baptism well, rather than a source of drinking water. The village has many wells and springs, so drinking water wouldn’t have been a limited. However, local ‘legend’ tells us that the well has never dried up, even in long hot Summers.

So, could this have been a source, when other springs dried up? If this was a place which always provided water, it’s not surprising that it had religious connections, both Christianity and possibly earlier.

This brings us onto the quartz. It’s obvious that his type of stone was brought to the site from further afield, as it’s not a naturally occurring stone, in the area. A recently discovered enclosure, a mile to the East, also has a large number of quartz stone, where the banks would have been. Although the stones are spread, probably from ploughing, they tend to follow the lines of the banks.

Could there be a connection to this site? Another unconfirmed enclosure, 700m to the NE, also shows large amounts of quartz, both large and small stones, whilst the surrounding fields have none. Both enclosure sites were visible from a distance; the later having a full 360 degree view extending to Woolsery, Bodmin, Dartmoor and Exmoor. This enclosure site, especially, would have stood out in the landscape. Was there something ‘special’ about the area, which was marked with quartz?

The large number of stones found in the well, platform and pressed into the clay sides, indicates that the quartz was deliberately used for a purpose, at the well. Maybe decoration, as it would enhance the ‘sparkling’ effect of the water, or as Time Team’s Francis Pryor puts it, if we are not sure what it’s for, just call it ‘ritu

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Re: St. Petroc's Well by SiC on Sunday, 15 September 2019
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Our ongoing dig, by the Friends of Berry Castle, have revealed some interesting finds.
Loads of N Devon pottery shards are in the drainage channel and within the well itself. However, after clearing back the layers of silt within, a blue clay lines the well. Most interestingly is that small flecks of quartz have been pressed into the sides, which would have given a real sparkle to it. Larger lumps are in the channel, along with a rectangular quartz tile.
The North side of the well has been dug out with a digger, at some point, as the blue clay isn’t present and the edge seems slightly elongated. The spoil has been found further back, overgrown with nettles and brambles.
Test pits have found the original stone platform, above the well and steps leading down the sides. Again, small quartz stones are present between many of the stones. I’m unsure why quartz would be so prevalent, especially, as it’s not a local stone. 2 of our volunteers are vicars and are also uncertain as to why quartz would be in the well. Maybe pre Christian, or old local ‘tradition’’?
Further digging will take place, then an open day.
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Re: St. Petroc's Well by treslothan on Sunday, 01 September 2019
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Great that St Petroc's well is to be uncovered and restored. I am especially interested to read that there may have been a plunge pool here as this would be fairly unusual for this part of Devon
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Re: St. Petroc's Well by SiC on Wednesday, 14 August 2019
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In July, Friends of Berry Castle had planned to locate, dig and restore the ancient lost well of St Petrock, in Newton St Petrock. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we’ve had to postpone it. However, we hope to dig the well, over several weekends in September.
If you’d be interested in joining in, as a volunteer digger, please email us. No previous experience is necessary, just enthusiasm and a disregard for getting muddy! You can contact us at berrycastle1@outlook.com
In preparation for the dig, a couple of us set to work, clearing the grass and vegetation within and around the well. We were surprised to see how large it was. Rather than a small traditional well, it was more like a plunge pool, measuring around 3m across and 80cm deep. We’ve also opened up the stone pavement, for the water to drain down.

For updates, please keep an eye on the ‘events’ page, on our website http://www.berrycastlehuntshaw.com , as I’ll add the dates, when they are confirmed. Alternatively, you can sign up to our mailing list, where we can email you directly. Contact details are on our website.
But who was St Petrock and why are so many Devon wells associated with him?
Saint Petrock was a Welsh prince, son of King Glywys of Glywsing (ancient name of Glamorgan), who trained as a priest in Ireland and journeyed to Devon (Dewnans) and Cornwall (Kernow) in the 6th century to preach. Associations with his name stretch from North Wales, through Devon and Cornwall, into Brittany. Many wells are dedicated to saints, but rarely can they be directly associated with them. St Petrock’s Well, in Newton St Petrock, was allegedly dedicated to him, when he visited.
There are a number of stories surrounding St Petrock. According to the legends, St Petrock was returning from a pilgrimage to Rome, when he stayed at Newton St Petrock. During his time there, it rained constantly. The locals asked him when the storm would stop and he told them that it would end the next day. Unfortunately for him, it continued to rain (it’s Devon, after all). He was appalled at his own presumption, that he could foretell the future and set out on a journey of penance to Rome, then Jerusalem, then India. There, he befriended a wolf, which he is often pictured with. His journey took seven years, before returning to Britain.
His understanding of storms may have been on par with Michael Fish, however, St Petrock is more commonly associated with humility and caring for animals. He is often depicted with a staff and bell, as well as being accompanied by a stag and wolf. Two stories tell of dragons. The first is when he came across a dragon with a splinter in it’s eye. St Petrock removed the splinter and bound the eye with his sash, before leading it to Padstow and releasing it into the sea. The second tells of a dragon who regularly flew down and ate the villager’s sheep. He was captured, kept in a pit and fed cattle, until the villagers decided what to do with him. St Petrock was appalled by this and hooked his staff around the dragon’s neck and again, led him down to Padstow, to be released into the sea. Padstow, by the way, was originally called Llanbedrog, then Petrocstowe, in honour of him, where the saint founded a monastery.
A third story tells of his time as a hermit on Bodmin Moor, where he saved a deer from a hunt, led by Constantine of Cornwall. St Petrock, apparently, converted Constantine to Christianity. Some say the saint could even turn into a stag!
When St Petrock died, he was buried in Padstow. Around 1000 AD, his relics, including his staff and bell, were taken to Bodmin, where his shrine was built. In 1177, the relics were stolen by a Breton, who took them to the Abbey of St Meen, in Brittany. The Bishop of Exeter was outraged and asked King Henry II to intervene. The King ordered the relics to be returned, but granted the Abbey, one single rib.
Du

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    Re: St. Petroc's Well by Anonymous on Tuesday, 27 August 2019
    Interesting history. I have links with north wales and cornwall and have always been interested in st petroc. You must know that there is a st pedrog’s church in Llanbwdrog ( place of Petroc - well mutation)
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Re: St. Petroc's Well by Anonymous on Friday, 17 May 2019
The Friends of Berry Castle archaeology group, will be locating and restoring this ancient well, this Summer (2019)
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