<< Our Photo Pages >> St Peter's Holy Well (Cornwall) - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in England in Cornwall
Submitted by Rory on Sunday, 23 April 2006 Page Views: 7059
Springs and Holy WellsSite Name: St Peter's Holy Well (Cornwall) Alternative Name: Saint's WellCountry: England County: Cornwall Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring
Nearest Village: Polperro
Map Ref: SX20395105
Latitude: 50.331933N Longitude: 4.525018W
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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Holy Well or Sacred Spring in Cornwall
It seems to be a bit of a deduction that this Holy Well was dedicated to St. Peter. Locally it’s traditionally been called, more vaguely, Saint’s Well and even Wishing Well. It has been given unfavourable reviews in the guidebooks to Holy Wells. Almost dismissed as a gap in the side of the lane with a mere trickle of water issuing. Rather irrationally I was pretty keen to track it down. It is easy enough to find, although it is a steep climb (west) out of Polperro if you choose not to drive.
The Well, although petite, has considerable charm and no doubt benefits from the loving care of its current guardian. It now has a small, engraved piece of slate reassuring the tourist that it is this particular gap that is the “Holy Well” (there are other wet gullies further up the lane.)
It is pretty but, given that it lacks any kind of substantial construction around it, you might not feel it worth crossing half of Cornwall to make the visit. If you were hoping it might provide a cure for your sore eyes, which it is perfectly capable of doing, you’ll need to make that journey to arrive there on “three succeeding mornings fasting before sunrise.” The record of this rite indicates the mystical heritage of this Well. We should be grateful to the current guardian of this sacred spot for their consideration and sensitivity.
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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
1.1km N 352° Polperro (Kellow) Standing Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SX20275216)
3.4km N 351° Pelynt Barrow Cemetery* Barrow Cemetery (SX200544)
3.7km ENE 74° Hendersick Barrow* Round Barrow(s) (SX23965196)
3.9km N 358° Holy Well in Pelynt Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SX204550)
4.2km NNW 334° Bake rings* Ancient Village or Settlement (SX187549)
4.5km NE 41° Watergate Stone* Standing Stone (Menhir) (SX23455436)
4.6km N 11° Hall Rings Hillfort (SX214555)
4.6km ENE 64° Portlooe Cross* Ancient Cross (SX24625289)
5.3km NNE 21° Yearle’s Fort Hillfort (SX2246555953)
5.6km ENE 74° St Martin's Well (Shutta) Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SX258524)
5.7km ENE 64° St Mary's Well (Cornwall)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SX256534)
5.7km NNE 19° St Non's Well (Cornwall)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SX224564)
6.6km ENE 58° Barrow near Looe Barrow Cemetery (SX2611054356)
6.7km W 268° Polruan Standing Stones* Standing Stones (SX137510)
7.6km W 266° Lanteglos-by-Fowey Church Crosses Ancient Cross (SX12755074)
7.6km W 266° St Saviour's Holy Well (Polruan)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SX12755073)
7.7km NNE 22° St Cuby's Church Iron Age Fort* Hillfort (SX23485809)
7.8km NNE 26° St Cuby's Well (Duloe)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SX24085796)
7.9km NNE 22° Duloe* Stone Circle (SX23585831)
8.5km NNW 347° Bury Camp (Cornwall)* Hillfort (SX188594)
9.2km W 275° Tristan Stone* Early Christian Sculptured Stone (SX1123252117)
9.2km WNW 294° St Samson's Well (Golant)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SX121551)
9.9km NE 45° Bin Down (East Looe)* Ancient Village or Settlement (SX2764957830)
10.2km NNE 23° St Keyne's Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SX248603)
10.7km WNW 289° Castle Dore* Hillfort (SX1034454824)
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