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Monuments and Landscape in Atlantic Europe, Scarre

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Madron Well - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in England in Cornwall

Submitted by TheCaptain on Thursday, 15 April 2004  Page Views: 29093

Springs and Holy WellsSite Name: Madron Well Alternative Name: Madron Holy Well
Country: England County: Cornwall Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring
Nearest Town: Penzance  Nearest Village: Madron
Map Ref: SW44543274  Landranger Map Number: 203
Latitude: 50.139585N  Longitude: 5.576553W
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.
 5 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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SolarMegalith would like to visit

TheCaptain visited on 13th Jun 2023 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4 Despite it being very foggy, I decide I have to visit Madron Well, and anyway, it all adds to the atmosphere. When I get to the watery bit by the path, there is not so much tat hanging in the trees as I was expecting, and most of what there is is either real strips of cloth or floral offerings. Despite having a bad foot, and only wearing sandals, I decide I want to try and find the proper well, but soon get beaten with the marshy conditions and my unsteady legs. With nothing to hold on to, at one point I slip, try to adjust my footing onto a duckboard, but that then moves under me and I am down on my ass in the mud and water. Oh well, make the most of it and douse my bad toe in the water. Has to be said that after more than 3 months of not healing, the scar started to turn into a proper scab after this, and was properly healing by the end of the week.

micske visited on 1st Jun 2023 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 3

Catrinm visited on 16th Feb 2020 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4

SteveC visited on 24th Apr 2007 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 5 Access: 4

lucasn visited - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 3

TheCaptain cazzyjane Ramblesnbrambles have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 3.6 Ambience: 4.8 Access: 3.6

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by Bladup : The elemental Madron Well. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Madron Well is a renowned and very mystical Holy Well / Spring to be found (if you are lucky) in some thick woodland up on the moorland beyond Madron to the northwest of Penzance. Nearby is an ancient baptistry through which much of the spring water is channelled.

Despite being much tidied up over the past decade, the site retains much of its air of magic and mystery, and is clearly still the site of much ritual.
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Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by OldBloke : June 2nd 2008 ~ surrounded my nature's colours. Now cared for by the Cornish Ancient Sites Protection Network, let's hope it stays this way, in nature, and just tended to when needed. A year or so ago, I wasn't sure about the 'proper' pathway to the stream & 'chapel', but with all the colour at this time of year and the peace, there is a special feeling of 'magic' & serenity walking along there.... (Vote or comment on this photo)

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by Stonefly : Some work seems to have been done here; access was pretty straightforward (the recent dry weather doubtless a factor in this!) & the well itself appears to have been cleared somewhat. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by KiwiBetsy : Clouties on the path to the Baptistry. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by enkidu41 : The light coming through the canopy creates a wonderful atmosphere - on a sunny day at least! The stones comprising the well can be seen round the back edge of the circumference. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by TheCaptain : Despite it being very foggy, I decide I have to visit Madron Well, and anyway, it all adds to the atmosphere. When I get to the watery bit by the path, there is not so much tat hanging in the trees as I was expecting, and most of what there is is either real strips of cloth or floral offerings. Despite having a bad foot, and only wearing sandals, I decide I want to try and find the proper well, bu... (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by Bladup : The timeless Madron Well, It's even got a sign.

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by Bladup : The primal Madron Well.

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by thecaptain : Madron Baptistry

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by Thorgrim : Madron Well (SW44653280) is actually situated beneath a cloutie hung tree in very boggy ground. The water runs into this little ruined chapel nearby. The custom of hanging rags or "clouties" on the tree is a very ancient one and not a modern "new age" invention. Records from the 17th and 18th centuries describe the custom and the many cures experienced. There does seem solid evidence that this... (3 comments)

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by Bladup : Colourful clouties in strong sunlight near the Well

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by lucasn : Madron Well

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by AngieLake : The CASPN (Cornish Ancient Site Protection Network), stone post at the beginning of the footpath could do with a scrub, but as long as they are caring for the site, who are we to complain?

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by AngieLake : The water beside the tree gives the scene a special ambience.

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by AngieLake : Looking back on the way to the baptistry, gives a better view of the 'new' cloutie tree. (New, because it didn't exist last time I visited!)

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by AngieLake : There was a particularly touching offering in the shape of one leaf encased in a plastic pouch, (which was a very naughty idea, really!)

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by AngieLake : Near the main footpath a tree has been turned into a sacred site for people intend on hanging clouties, who can't get to the proper well.

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by AngieLake : This is zoomed in to try to see the site of the actual well. I knew there was no way I'd get to it without wellies and a stick!

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by AngieLake : Slightly to the right of the previous shot, showing the jungle of foliage and atmospheric twisted trees.

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by AngieLake : My first sight of the muddy access to Madron Well, a few short steps from the footpath, on the left. Several years ago, I missed this altogether.

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by AngieLake : On a sunny summer day the footpath is not at all creepy, though I've read remarks in the past to that effect. In May it is bordered with wild flowers, and the occasional twisted tree.

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by AngieLake : A rather overgrown plaque set low in the wall at the left of the beginning of the footpath reads: 'Celtic Chapel and Wishing Well'.

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by AngieLake : Standing on the stone bench next to the water basin, looking along the length of the interior of the baptistry.

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by AngieLake : Another shot showing the shape of the empty water basin in the baptistry. 18.6.18

Madron Well
Madron Well submitted by AngieLake : The water basin in the baptistry was a sad, muddy, empty sight.

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Cornovia: Ancient Sites of Cornwall and Scilly, Craig Weatherhill

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"Madron Well" | Login/Create an Account | 20 News and Comments
  
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Madron Well by lucasn on Sunday, 03 March 2019
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Video by lucasn on Tuesday, 10 April 2018
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPWXgJ_TOkA
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Re: Madron Well by TheCaptain on Wednesday, 21 June 2017
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Link here to a thread in our forum, with some interesting accounts of visits to Madron Well.

Madron Well
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Re: Madron Well by Anonymous on Tuesday, 18 August 2015
Interesting link - http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/3744/madron_holy_well.html

It would appear that many people, myself included, have not actually seen the actual well/spring here!

It is not the pool with the ribbon tree, or inside the chapel. Apparently it is a half mile walk from the chapel, down one of the paths you see going into the woods near the ribbon tree.

The few comments hinting at this all say to wear rubber boots as it is very boggy.

Like many others I felt I had missed something on my visit to Madron and it turns out I did miss something!

A trip back is definately on the cards.

Dan x
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Re: Madron Well by Anonymous on Tuesday, 18 August 2015
Did anyone else notice that when you walk past the chapel and continue down the path it changes to have trees planted a on both sides of the oath, perfectly evenly spaced and fully grown. Clearly someone a long time ago took a lot of time planting these trees. Me and my partner continued walking the path & after 10 minutes the trees still lined the path. There must be at least 100 identical trees there! And it kept going as far as we could see, we turned back as we were running out of time to get home. Upon passing the chapel on oour return I noticed the same trees about 3 metres off the main path, in exactly the same spacing as before. I am sure these tree lined paths were the original path - does anyone know about this? I am going to 'google earth' and look at it from above . Beautiful place though, no doubt about that.
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Re: Madron Well by Anonymous on Friday, 17 July 2015
hi, I live in penzance and yesterday it was all misty and much rain as i decided to show my German girl friend Madron Well. so, we parked the car and went down the path which was beautiful and magical in the mist , eventualy we went left at the cloutie trees into the marsh, this way and that,but in the general direction , or so i thought, anyway , because of all the rain the water was getting deeper and deeper with huge brambles too it became more or less impenetrable unless we had waders and a machete but we had only wellies!so, we gave up and decided to turn back, but hold on, where was back? i pride myself in my sense of direction and have very rarely got lost and hey presto we were totally lost, stumbling around up and down false exits until eventually we could head for a clearing then into a deep grassy field only to find ourselves what turned out to be on the opposite side of the path going in the opposite direction back to where i was sure the car was, so, even in the open misty field i/we were still lost. I had to laugh and did feel i was being played with and not as clever as i thought and for the fist time in ages i was back in the otherworld of mystery and magic. Even though we were soaking and had to stop the only car down a track and ask for directions and got back, it was one of the best mini adventures i had ever had and got me back and reminded me as to why i was here in the first place. we were lost in time and space but felt safe.
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    Re: Madron Well by TheCaptain on Friday, 17 July 2015
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    Nice story! And here I am thinking that the pathway to the well and the woodlands had been much too tidied up over the last decade, with much of the wonderful mystery of this place gone. Clearly, it still has some of its magic.
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Re: Madron Well by Anonymous on Wednesday, 23 January 2013
After reading all of the stories on this page it has helped me so much for a digital story i am creating for my college project about madron well, i am doing it from the wells perspective as it is a very different approach to this project. I have loved reading all of your stories about madron well, and after being there myself quite alot for this i totally agree with everything that has been said. Madron well is indeed a fascinating place and it is easy to become absorbed by the eerie yet safe atmosphere.
Steff Allaway
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Re: Madron Well by Anonymous on Tuesday, 25 August 2009
I visisted this on Saturday 22/08/09, I had my dowsing rods with me just to see what would happen. The right hand rods span around as I stood on top of the water source, very strange. I only ever had this happen in Cornwall. Also as I walked down the path passing the up-rooted large tree the right hand rod spun. I climbed into the pit of the tree and noticed 3 rocks, I don't know why I had this reaction, maybe something is below here?

Maybe someone who is an expert in dowsing could add insight to this?

MW
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Re: Madron Well by Anonymous on Tuesday, 26 February 2008
went to madron well and baptistry last week for the lunar eclipse this is the most peacefull calming place i have ever been to spooky not at all i felt very safe at all times looking foreward to going back in the summer , i found it a very female place perhaps that is why some men feel odd there ,the goddess does tend to look after her own1
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Re: Madron Well by Andy B on Wednesday, 28 November 2007
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kifperran writes: As an elderly retired guy I found I needed both a hobby and exercise to prevent myself spending every day staring at the television and dribbling down my cardigan. I decided that I would visit and photograph all the neolithic sites in West Penwith, Cornwall.
Today I walked to Madron Holy Well and Baptistry. I last visited with my children nearly fifty years ago. There were a few 'clouties' tied to a tree then. Today the site is a mess, trees are festooned with all sorts of rubbish most of which is modern fabric or plastic which will not rot.

Is there no 'guardian' of these sites today? if I were younger I would have cleared the rubbish away myself. Do people not know why rags were tied to trees at Holy wells?
I am truly disturbed by this. In days gone by people would tie a rag to a tree if someone they loved was ill and believed that as the rag rotted the illness would go. I can only suppose that stuff is tied to the trees nowadays for 'good luck'

I wish it would stop and then places like Madron Holy Well would become the beautiful serene sites they once were.
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    Re: Madron Well by Andy B on Wednesday, 28 November 2007
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    Welcome to the site kifperran, I'm inclined to agree with you on this. I look forward to seeing some of your photos on here, happy hunting!
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Re: Madron Well by Judy6 on Saturday, 07 July 2007
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When travelling from Lanyon Quoit towards Madron we spotted a sign indicating Boswarthan Celtic Chapel and Well to the left so, not wishing to miss an opportunity like that, we thought we would take a look. When we reached the destination, we found Madron Well and the remains of the ancient chapel. I have the photos to prove it.
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Re: Madron Well by Anonymous on Tuesday, 19 June 2007
We came across the well and chapel by accident last week. It was so beautiful and peaceful. I just hope it doesn't get spoilt! There were flowers on the altar and on the seats. Very mystical.
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Re: Madron Well by Anonymous on Friday, 30 December 2005
I visited the well some time ago and felt at home there.I know of a Cornish women who was baptised at the Baptistry.
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Re: Madron Well by Anonymous on Monday, 27 June 2005
Many years ago, I went for a walk to find Madron Well, which was not clearly signposted at that time. I found myself in a beautiful meadow, full of wild flowers, in the centre of which was a clear spring of water. Although the place was lovely - enchanting, even - I felt uneasy there, and tried to find my way back. I tried a number of ways out of the meadow (there was no path), but it took about half an hour before I could retrace my way back to the road. I am used to walking, and usually have a good sense of direction, but this nearly defeated me, and I felt quite panicked, wondering if I would ever find my way back.
Some years later, I followed the signs to the Baptistery and well. Of course, it was not "my" well, which I could not find !
Has anyone else a similar story - does my well exist ?
Shirley Butler
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    Re: Madron Well by TheCaptain on Saturday, 08 October 2005
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    Hello Shirley. You will indeed find many other people with similar stories to your own concerning Madron Well, myself included. Please check out the following page in the forum http://www.megalithic.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=Forum&file=viewtopic&topic=459&forum=2
    where you will find other peoples experiences here.
    [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Madron Well by Anonymous on Tuesday, 03 January 2006
    Wow ! That is interesting. And I have something to add : I started my walk to the Madron well near the bus stop and pub in Madron, and climbed over a couple of stiles and through three fields which progressively got more overgrown until I came out at a dirt road directly in front of a small wooden sign post pointing the direction to the well. I noted the sign was directly in front of and across from the opening/stile I would use to return. And then went on my way down the road, seeing no one the entire time I was there. I entered the greenery and went down the path and was immediately uneasy. I heard a voice in my head saying 'Go back, go back' but of course I wouldn't. It wasn't me warning me, it was something else telling me to get out, that I wasn't wanted there, seemingly. And I took exception to this! I went to the well, but then felt led on to a glade that might once have been used for coppicing, the trees were so straight, and the trunks were so narrow. With the sunlight coming through, this glade felt soft and well, celestial. Magical of course - that goes with out saying: the whole place is utterly magical. But I felt like I was going to be shown something in this glade and but then I stopped it , because I felt so unworthy. Odd, isn't it? And also I felt like the whole place, this whole experience was tremendously erotic. Achingly so. So I left, retracing my steps, which of course were easy - or should have been. I got out of the woods easily enough, but when I reached the road, it was like it wasn't there! And I have a very good sense of direction and orientation and never get lost. Now I was a bit panicked. But after around a half an hour of skirting around the greenery, there was the road. I can't really explain what this transition was all about, or where the road was all this time. So I walked down the road looking for my signpost and way out. It's a short road. And I couldn't find it or the opening/stile. For almost two hours I was trapped on this dirt road, like an animal in a corral. And then all of a sudden there it was - the signpost - and across from it, the opening, and I went down it, through the fields and back to the pub. I half expected to find out that a century had passed! Then I noticed my watch was gone. So I retraced my steps through hedgerow as as far as that road, carefully looking for it. But I wasn't about to go back in all the way. It was getting close to dusk at this point. But I believe the nature spirits or fairies or ??? took that watch somehow. That time keeping was an abomination in that space. I believe that I was being led to see something in that glade. What I don't know. But it wasn't like anything I had witnessed previously : it was especially for me and I felt unworthy to receive it. And I beliebe that for me, that short road was a buffer zone, a transitional space between two worlds, two realities, two 'speeds'. I'd be interested in comments.
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      Re: Madron Well by SquirrelSqueaky on Saturday, 15 January 2011
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      interesting...i believe you have something. i visited Sep 2010. i am in a process of grieving, utterly disturbed at present. i went to the well as i truly feel i exchange, i commune, that these are places of MY worship. how i would have loved to have visited with my late partner....i was at first met with warning,,gentle, but i felt i had to be truly allowed to enter the sight. i cannot describe everything i felt and nor do i want to, suffice it to say i echo your experience. i feel i need to help "clear" this space, perhaps this will become my pilgrimage once a year. hope was restored.
      [ Reply to This ]
    Re: Madron Well by AngieLake on Thursday, 13 July 2006
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    When reading these fascinating stories I was reminded of the scary feelings I had at Creeg Tol, near Boscawen Un. (Felt sure I was being watched, and couldn't see how to get out.)

    I only found out today that the well isn't near the path or the baptistry! I hope the newly-made access route doesn't take away the special atmosphere of the place.
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