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Stonehenge Sacred Symbolism - Ancient Beliefs in Britain and Northern Europe

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Crosland Moor Holy Well - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in England in Yorkshire (West)

Submitted by andy_h on Thursday, 03 June 2004  Page Views: 17735

Springs and Holy WellsSite Name: Crosland Moor Holy Well
Country: England County: Yorkshire (West) Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring
Nearest Town: Huddersfield  Nearest Village: Crosland Moor
Map Ref: SE121156  Landranger Map Number: 110
Latitude: 53.636782N  Longitude: 1.818476W
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.
 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.
 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
 3

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Crosland Moor Holy Well
Crosland Moor Holy Well submitted by andy_h : Detail of the spring head. (Vote or comment on this photo)
Holy Well/Sacred Spring in West Yorkshire

Whilst looking over old Ordinance Survey maps, I have found what I believe to be a forgotten Holy Well. When I was a child, we used to call it the 'Wishing Well'. On the hillside of Crosland Moor above Manchester Road is a small spring that we used to take our water from during the drought in 1976 and drink from after playing footy on the nearby recreation field.

It doesn't look like a significant site now but from the evidence that I can find, it may once have been quite a special place. It is reached either by leaving the path leading to the old quarries from the top junction of Ivy Street and William Street, and taking the steep path down to the steps that lead to the well. Or by taking the path opposite the graveyard entrance on Deep Lane and walking up the hill behind the Warren House and on to the well.

Water emerged from the hillside via a crudely cemented pipe into a small pool. It was then directed out by an open stone gutter, across the path and into a trough constructed from sandstone slabs. Out of the trough, it tumbles down the hill side, past a small rock outcrop to be collected in a tank behind houses on Manchester Road.

Next to the trough is a curious stone box, open only on the side overlooking the valley in which Milnsbridge sits and looking over to Paddock and Golcar. The place has changed a bit since I was a boy. The old stone gutter has gone, the water now flows into a round concrete bowl and disappears underground. The old trough lies broken and overgrown by brambles and a low section of stone walling has been built behind the well recently.

As the hillside around this area has been worked as quarries in the past (Crosland Moor sandstone is of noted quality and was used in a number of local buildings), it is possible that the steps and trough may be associated with the quarry works, or possibly a trough for local people to draw water from before the laying of water pipes. Troughs also still exist at the bottom of the Pinfold Lane/Manchester Road junction and on Deep Lane. I thought little of the well in the years during which I grew up and moved away from the area. However, I was recently looking over an 1843 Ordinance Survey map of the area when I noticed that the hillside was known as Holy Well Woods at the time. This fired my curiosity and examination of a more detailed map from 1854 shows that the Holy Well in question, is the stream that we used to call the 'Wishing Well'. Is it possible that the name 'Holy Well' is a christianisation of a much earlier name? Is it possible that it may have been a significant site during the iron age practise of water worship? Unfortunately the site itself doesn't offer many visible clues and I don't remember hearing any folktales attached to the well.
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Crosland Moor Holy Well
Crosland Moor Holy Well submitted by andy_h : Overhead view of the well's setting from the hillside above. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Crosland Moor Holy Well
Crosland Moor Holy Well submitted by andy_h : The old stone steps leading down the hillside to the well. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Crosland Moor Holy Well
Crosland Moor Holy Well submitted by andy_h : Crosland Moor Holy Well. (Vote or comment on this photo)

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Nearby Images from Geograph Britain and Ireland:
SE1215 : Well and path, Crosland Moor by Humphrey Bolton
by Humphrey Bolton
©2009(licence)
SE1215 : "Holy Well", Crosland Moor by Humphrey Bolton
by Humphrey Bolton
©2009(licence)
SE1215 : Upper millpond, off, Manchester Road, Milnsbridge, Linthwaite by Humphrey Bolton
by Humphrey Bolton
©2007(licence)
SE1215 : Terraced housing on Manchester Road, Huddersfield by JThomas
by JThomas
©2018(licence)
SE1215 : A bus passing the junction of Factory Lane and Manchester Road (A62), Milnsbridge by habiloid
by habiloid
©2021(licence)

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 3.5km ESE 115° Castle Hill (West Yorkshire)* Hillfort (SE153141)
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 11.3km NNW 328° Warley Edge (Halifax)* Rock Art (SE061252)
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"Crosland Moor Holy Well" | Login/Create an Account | 16 News and Comments
  
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Re: Crosland Moor Holy Well by Anonymous on Tuesday, 05 May 2020
I love this spot. A friend recently shared this with me.

The Legend of Crosland Moor Quarry Holy Well

A long time ago, when your Grandparents, grandparents were still children, a young girl and her dad set out into the woods by Crosland Moor Quarry. It was a strange time when folk were forbidden to mix, and families were permitted out of their homes but once a day. The girl never queried this; as it was all she had known. Plus, she adored her daily ventures out with her dad, who she would do anything for.

These ventures included helping her dad to clear a path through the woods. Which she did happily. One day, while clearing the thickets to the side of their path the girl pulled at some dead knotweeds that, after a struggle, came away with a jerk which left her on her bottom, revealing a murky water filled hole beneath. Curious, the girl and her dad began clearing the bushes from around the hole. They found that the hole was a shallow and dirty well. They felt elated with their discovery. It was almost as if the well was emanating a good feeling. So much so, that when they headed for home, the girl felt a pang of guilt at leaving the well.

Returning the next day, they soon felt the good feelings being around the well. The girl didn’t say, but she thought the ‘good feeling’ really was emanating from the well itself. As her dad continued to clear up weeds and deadwood, the girl spent her time stood looking into the unknown watery depths. She was certain she could feel the Well’s gratitude pouring out, creating the ‘good feeling’, for all the work they were doing. By now, her dad had cleared all the bush about the Well revealing a long moss-covered wall that lay just behind. Yet, the more she stared into the hole the more she thought she could sense silent messages as if the Well’s was sending her directions to act upon. The girl acted immediately on this unspoken communication by directing Her dad, who’d been having a well-earned brew break, to try digging in a certain area. Within minutes he hit something hard. Thinking he had touched on a bed of Rough Rock, he dug further to find a set of stone stairs that had been hidden beneath the soil for unknown years. The stairs led up to a thick wall of thickets, which the girl somehow knew was the Wells boundary.

She had felt awful leaving the previous day. The rapid withdrawal of ‘good feeling’ when they prepared to leave left the girl sad. But, on their return the following day, she soon felt the gratitude and the guiding hand of the Well. Her dad, feeling good himself, was impressed at his daughter’s intuition and enthusiasm. She’d suggested starting on the other side of their path, at the point it bent and left the Well’s boundaries. Her dad, cutting and pulling away his first clumps of knotweed, found what turned out to be a huge stone storage space that was cut into the steep slope facing the Well and overlooking the road leading to Milnsbridge. The girl, looking at the Well, began to wonder if the water was beginning to look a bit clearer. They both felt sad leaving that day.

Eager to get back the following day, they woke early and hurriedly got dressed then raced up to the quarry woods, spooking a deer on their way. Her dad, feeling pretty good about himself, got straight to work while the girl sat by the Well. Immersed in the Wells ‘good feeling’ the girl continued to receive unheard messages that she relayed to Her dad as her own ideas. Instructing him to dig behind the Well, he soon discovered rows of walls climbing the slope behind the Well. The girl really began to feel a sense of trust for the Well and its powers. But then, in that instance, her intuition suddenly felt off. Yet, everything else the Well had suggested had led to good things, why not now? So, acting on the intuition and picking up a stone she threw it as far as she could back down their path, it bounced to a stop without incident. Unimpressed, she looked back toward the Well and was struck to see that the water was

Read the rest of this post...
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    Re: Crosland Moor Holy Well by Anonymous on Tuesday, 07 July 2020
    Hi can you tell me the year as I am part of paranormal team and finding research on this well is limited so if you have any information contact me at oliviaah96@icloud thank you so much and our team is called spirit within on Facebook
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Crosland Moor Holy Well by Anonymous on Thursday, 11 July 2019
I found this really interesting, but wanted to know more as a resident of Crosland Moor and wondered if you have any idea why there is a stone circle in a field off Thewlis Lane and before Nether Moor Road?
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Curious Celtic Stone in Marsden Park, Marsden, near Huddersfield. by rldixon on Tuesday, 31 May 2011
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I have just uploaded four photos of this memorial and the Old stone carvings at the base
i had to put them in the West Yorkshire gallery as i couldnt find a way into the site page which has sunny's photo on it ;-(
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    Re: Curious Celtic Stone in Marsden Park, Marsden, near Huddersfield. by Sunny100 on Tuesday, 31 May 2011
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    Thanks Rld, no there was no site page for the stone as I didn't know whether it was more recent in age. But, I look forward to viewing your photos. You have been very kind. Thanks so much for your help. Ray.
    [ Reply to This ]

Re: Curious Celtic Stone in Marsden Park, Marsden, near Huddersfield. by Sunny100 on Friday, 27 May 2011
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Rd, have posted the b/w image for you. Hope Andy puts it on as its not a good image of the stone. But it will give you some idea as to what to look for. Cheers.
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Re: Curious Celtic Stone in Marsden Park, Marsden, near Huddersfield. by rldixon on Friday, 27 May 2011
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sunny can u send or post the black and white image so i have a clue as to what i'm looking for ???
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    Re: Curious Celtic Stone in Marsden Park, Marsden, near Huddersfield. by TheCaptain on Friday, 27 May 2011
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    Picture posted here here
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      Re: Curious Celtic Stone in Marsden Park, Marsden, near Huddersfield. by Sunny100 on Friday, 27 May 2011
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      Thanks Captain, it looks better when viewed on the portal !
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Re: Curious Celtic Stone in Marsden Park, Marsden, near Huddersfield. by Sunny100 on Friday, 27 May 2011
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Thanks so much rd, please let us know what you find out and would very much like to see photos. I only have a poor black and white image. The stone is close by the bandstand. Many thanks.
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Re: Curious Celtic Stone in Marsden Park, Marsden, near Huddersfield. by rldixon on Friday, 27 May 2011
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i can pop over to marsden and get some photos next week if i get the time

i only live a few miles away so no trouble ..i'lll see if there is any info available localy
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Re: Curious Celtic Stone in Marsden Park, Marsden, near Huddersfield. by Sunny100 on Thursday, 26 May 2011
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I have been informed by Aussteiger that the Celtic type stone in Marsden Park at Marsden near Huddersfield may be recent, perhaps no later than 1600 and no earlier than 1400, though John Dixon states that "that is his opinion" only.
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Re: Curious Celtic Stone in Marsden Park, Marsden, near Huddersfield. by Sunny100 on Wednesday, 25 May 2011
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Anyone out there in Meg Portal land known something about a curious stone near the bandstand in Marsden Park, Carrs Lane, Marsden, near Huddersfield. Os grid reference SE.0512011485.

The stone in question stands at the foot of a monument set up in 1911 to commemorate the local dialect poet Samuel Laycock (1826-1893).

The stone has carvings in low relief of a garland or crown of oak leaves, acorns and flowers with the stems interlinking. Near the bottom there is the top part (head) of a figure with sunrays radiating from the head, similar to the halo of a saint. Could this be a representation of a Celtic saint, or something else, perhaps a Sun god ?

Some local historians consider the stone to be Celtic in origins, but I cannot say either way and have no clue as to its age. I have an image but its a bit darkish and not that brilliant. Anyone help, please.
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Re: Crosland Moor Holy Well by Anonymous on Thursday, 17 September 2009
I remember this area and the well. I googled to find out if there was anything about the area of moor land previous to the land being quarried. As a child I would accompany my brother and his friends and they would happily block up the damn and I looked for shrimps. I have found memories of the moors where I walked often. If you discover anything more about the history of the area I would be very interested to hear.
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Re: Crosland Moor Holy Well by Anonymous on Sunday, 08 March 2009
How odd. I grew up in Crosland Moor and know that hillside very well, and have walked up and down there hundreds of times, played on there as a kid, yet I never knew there was a well, Holy or otherwise. I can't even recall, or place, those steps. I do remember a stone trough near bottom of Deep Lane, which was just an old horse trough as far as I remember. I had no idea the area was once a wood, or that it was called "Holy Well Woods". That is a first on me. I have never come across any reference to the well in any books or articles on local history.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Crosland Moor Holy Well by Anonymous on Wednesday, 26 March 2008
Hi,
A very interesting site and I was led to it in doing a search on Google for my old school, which was then called the Crosland Moor Council School, and which stood next to the St. Luke's Hospital not far from the Blackmoorfoot Road Methodist Chapel.
My memories of the 'Holy' Well go back to my boyhood when I lived at 20 William Street, and I used to play cricket on the recreation ground to which William Street led, and extended beyond Frederick Street. I was then 8 years old and it was 1946 when we moved to Crosland Moor from a village near Shrewsbury, when my Dad came out of the Army. So I got to know the area very well and in the summer my friends and I would walk to cricket matches at Marsden, Slaithwaite, (yes I can pronounce it proper!) Golcar, Broad Oak and Padock!!
We would play cricket all day in the rec and go down to drink water from the sandstone 'trough' full of crystal clear water, though where it came from I don't know, but it never stopped running.
The photographic views are very interesting and particularly the view looking down to the cottages in Milnsbridge, at the side of the Manchester Road. When strong winds blew against the moor we would stand at the edge looking down to these cottages and see how far we could lean into the wind!
I last went back to have a look at the old house and tried to find the 'well' about 1976 but I must have taken a wrong path along the moor and being short of time missed it. However by chance when I went down William Street to number 20, I bumped into the 'boy' who had lived opposite our house.....Geoffrey Pearson! We were amazed that we both still recognised each other as we had not met since 1949! My friend at 50 William Street was no longer there, nor my friend from 16, Frederick Street.
Happy daze! I have bookmarked your site to return again as it is full of interest and for me some very nostalgic memories. Many thanks.
Sincerely,
Andrew M. Ockenden now living in Nottingham

e-mail me at werdnanednecko@yahoo.co.uk
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