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<< Our Photo Pages >> Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in England in Lancashire

Submitted by jamesrattue on Wednesday, 22 August 2007  Page Views: 38888

Springs and Holy WellsSite Name: Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh Alternative Name: Ladyewell
Country: England County: Lancashire Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring
Nearest Town: Preston  Nearest Village: Broughton
Map Ref: SD55613362
Latitude: 53.796981N  Longitude: 2.675389W
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
5 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.
5 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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Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh
Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh submitted by jamesrattue : Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh, as seen on 23rd February 2007. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Holy Well or Sacred Spring in Lancashire.
Ladyewell is a very active Roman Catholic shrine on the northeast of Preston, consisting of a 17th-century house with an upstairs chapel and a rather bizarre collection of relics, a retreat complex, and the old Holy Well in the grounds.

Ladyewell House was constructed in 1685 to serve as a mass centre for local RCs, but the origins of the site's sanctity are very obscure. There was certainly a chapel here in the middle of the 14th century, but it could have been older. According to the Ladyewell guide book the name 'Fernyhalgh' means 'ancient shrine', but as the Anglo-Saxon for shrine is 'hearw' or 'heorh' I doubt it. In fact, nobody is even sure how to pronounce it. Ferny-hall is sometimes mentioned; most guides insist on Ferny-huff; while a local swore to me it should be Ferny-holsh. An undated legend tells of an Irish merchant swearing to build a chapel in thanks for surviving a storm at sea, and being directed here by a dream.

The well was a pool of water retained within its present walls until in 1905 the nuns occupying the house paved it, constructed steps down to the new well-head, and added a statue. This was replaced by the current one in 1935, and in 1954 the wooden arch the Sisters had built over the well was changed for stone. Within the last few years the tiles and retaining cage under the statue have been added.

I rather like Fernyhalgh, but then I am a clergyman (interestingly the lady in the shop asked whether I was a priest and when I answered that I was, and added rather apologetically that I was an Anglican, she said, 'Yes, I thought so'!). Whether you will depends on how you react to such Popish paraphernalia!

For more information see Pastscape Monument No. 42698. The Journal of Antiquities also includes and entry for Our Lady’s Well (Ladyewell), Fernyhalgh, Lancashire, which includes directions for finding this well, together with drawings of the well and well house, background information and a list of reference sources for more information.
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Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh
Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh submitted by TimPrevett : Viewing the well from inside the adjacent chapel. Wonderfully peaceful, and a very content, sleeping cat upon a chair too. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh
Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh submitted by TimPrevett : The upper outlet of well water for collecting in bottles, or crossing, as I saw several people do in my time here. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh
Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh submitted by TimPrevett : The setting of the well. Leafy, verdant, and very dark with the persistent heavy rain this afternoon. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh
Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh submitted by TimPrevett : A pilgrimage to Ladyewell - a complete coincidence with my visit there this afternoon - having been to Dr Who Museum in Blackpool. Leaving the well, it was a surprise to be greeted by a large number of pilgrims, some barefoot. (1 comment - Vote or comment on this photo)

Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.

Nearby Images from Geograph Britain and Ireland:
SD5533 : Ladyewell House, Broughton, from Fernyhalgh Lane by Humphrey Bolton
by Humphrey Bolton
©2007(licence)
SD5533 : Ladyewell House, Broughton (Preston) by Humphrey Bolton
by Humphrey Bolton
©2007(licence)
SD5533 : St Margaret Clitherow, Ladyewell House, Broughton (Preston) by Humphrey Bolton
by Humphrey Bolton
©2007(licence)
SD5533 : Martyrs' Chapel, Ladyewell House, Broughton (Preston) by Humphrey Bolton
by Humphrey Bolton
©2007(licence)
SD5533 : St Mary's Chapel, Ladyewell House, Broughton (Preston) by Humphrey Bolton
by Humphrey Bolton
©2007(licence)

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"Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh" | Login/Create an Account | 10 News and Comments
  
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Re: Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh by Anonymous on Monday, 13 May 2019
She is there. Do not ask how, or why, or anything. She is there, in that well. She is there.
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh by Sunny100 on Monday, 13 May 2019
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    Who is in the well? Do you mean Our Lady, The Blessed Virgin Mary? I visited about two years ago. I found the holy well, with its lovely statue, very pleasing and peaceful, and such a lovely holy place.
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh by Anonymous on Wednesday, 06 April 2016
iam looking for a girl,she did a paper round on fulwood row,there was a bridge being built and she had to deliver to a farm,she had to walk underneath the bridge she needs to sign out,also she walked with debbie and heather need to sign out,also she was reported missing she was snatched and she ran onto red row building site,were they took blood .she needs to sign out,ive got the bad men on vardem code red,were i shout down sign out,her brother did the paper round before her and need to sign out,i found out why they took her blood as she rhesus attacking blood,she had an injection but it a purple buuble on her arm and leg her body rejecting it,she not protected,i told her no bleeding,no spitting no blood no kissing no sex,sign out,they are not tresspassers
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh by Anonymous on Sunday, 13 April 2014
When I was a child me and my freinds voyaged to the shrine,we was only little girls and very regular visitors,even today we still voyage with are own children,most calmest place in the world,
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh by Anonymous on Wednesday, 20 August 2008
I visited the Shrine in 1954 as a pupil of Notre Dame Leeds and I was very pleased to visit it once more via your website.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh by TimPrevett on Saturday, 21 June 2008
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Short YouTube clip of Ladyewell and Pilgrimage (coincidence!) this after:

[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh by Anonymous on Thursday, 31 March 2011
    ladywell is a beautyfull place we visited it 2 wks ago with st alphonus church from old trafford and it was so peacefull and mass was so lovely and peacefull the staff that made the tea were so so nice and so happy to help all of us weather was on oure side this year thank god enjoyed the company of liam oure deacon from st alphonus and local priest from ladywell always cheerfull god bless him hope to see everyone next year or mabey before thank god for a nice peacefull place and hope ladywell will repon verry soone god bless all who runs the lovely place from bridie farrell from st alphonus parish and thank father pat deegan and liam for lovely service in st alphonus church and oure ladys church moss side and a thank you to thresa who keeps us all in line on her trips and her husband charles god bless everyone and thank you
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh by TimPrevett on Friday, 20 June 2008
(User Info | Send a Message)
Official website and visiting details here:

http://www.lancaster-diocese-education.org.uk/parishes_detail.php?items_id=46&cat_id=20
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh by Anonymous on Wednesday, 09 April 2008
I visited Fernyhalgh one summer's evening in the 1990's. There was Sacred Dancing on the lawn, and I joined in. There were white doves living there, and I remember a dance called White Bird in which we made the shape of the Cross with our feet, while holding hands in a large circle, and the music was so beautiful and peaceful. After this we walked round the garden visiting the well and the Stations of the Cross. We had refreshments in the house and the Priest was telling us some very gory details about the martyrs. It was a very inspirational place and I have yet to return there.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Our Lady's Well, Fernyhalgh by Anonymous on Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Dear Rev Rattue
We are glad you liked Fernyhalgh, the correct pronunciation is Fernyhuff and yes you are quite right it does not mean
ancient shrine , recent research has shown that it has its origins in Old English and means Ferny Meadows.
A more comprehensive history is in the process of being compiled and perhaps that may answer some of your queries.
We welcome everyone to Fernyhalgh and perhaps you will make yourself known to us next time you visit. One of the biggest pilgrimages to Ladyewell is the Anglican Forward in Faith group. Rgarding your query re the orgins of the "sanctity of the site" it was a chantry chapel and I am sure you will agree that wherever the Faithful gather for prayer
especially ecumenical there is a growth in the sanctity of any
area. Ann Gladwin B.A. (HONS) M.A. Shrine Administrator.
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