|
| |
[< Gallery Home | Latest Images | Top 100 | Submit Picture >]
101437 Pictures << Previous Picture | Next Picture >> St Seiriol's Well
[187 x 297 jpg]
 Print
Unless otherwise stated, this image is the copyright of the submitter. Contact them for permission to reproduce it. |  | | Description | According to the invaluable CADW (Welsh Historical Monuments) booklet, 'Anglesey - A Guide to Ancient Monuments on the Isle of Anglesey' :
"Traditionally, this well was thought to be associated with the early native Welsh monastic settlement at Penmon. Indeed, the well and adjacent 'cell', or chamber, were reputedly linked with St Seriol himself. What survives today, however, is probably very much later. The well is one of many examples in Wales linked with a local saint. Such wells were thought to have healing powers and they continued to be visited by the sick and infirm until fairly recent times. In 1811, St Seriol's was recorded as 'formerly in good repute'." ...... "In the foreground there is now an open forecourt, with a stone bench along each side. You will see a draw-bar hole for securing a door in the left-hand jamb of the entrance. The rectangular main chamber is situated beyond.
The well chamber is built against a vertical rock face, which forms one side of the structure. Inside, there is a small pool surrounded by a slabbed floor. It also has stone benches, wall recesses, and a probably 'squint', or viewing hole, in the right-hand corner. The upper part of the chamber has been rebuilt in brick and internally the walls retain a thick rendering of plaster. These changes seem to have taken place in the eighteenth century, whereas the lower courses are likely to be of earlier origin."
Under a photo of the well and the now ruinous 'cell' area, part of the caption reads:
"The 'cell' may have been used by pilgrims in more recent times to prepare before bathing in the well waters."
(According to the book, the monuments to be seen at Penmon belong mainly to the post-Roman and later medieval periods.):
"Traditionally, it is the site of a monastery established in the sixth century AD by St Seriol, a friend and contemporary of St Cybi. The holy well that survives may have its origins in this period. It seems likely that there was a monastery here throughout the seventh and eighth centuries, but there are no physical remains of early buildings standing above ground. Penmon was attacked during the Viking raids of the tenth century, and it is from about this time that the free-standing cross (no.2) in the church belongs. The present church was initially constructed about 1140-70....." |
| Posted Comments: Thorgrim
(2004-08-05) | Thanks for these Angela! I really wanted photos of this well. We can't use your scans of the CADW booklet for copyright reasons. Nice photos but a bit on the small side. To get them about right, reduce your scans or direct digital images to about 600x500 for upright pics like these and about 750x500 for landscape format. You may then need to reduce resolution to 150 or even 100 in order to be within our size limits. See tips on photo submission page. My guess is that you kept the resolution high and reduced the size. It's all a matter of balance between acceptable resolution and size. Worse thing is to reduce resolution and get an enormous wallpaper pic. Some earlier photos sent to us are like that. Too big to see in one go and horribly pixillated. Cheers and keep 'em coming! |
To post comments first you must Register! | |
Megalithic Portal eGallery, images of megaliths and prehistoric sites worldwide, free to view. |
Main News