<< Our Photo Pages >> Lady Well (Leek) - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in England in Staffordshire
Submitted by Anne T on Thursday, 30 June 2022 Page Views: 932
Springs and Holy WellsSite Name: Lady Well (Leek) Alternative Name: Lady O'Th'Dale Well; Weaver's Well; Lady Wall DaleCountry: England
NOTE: This site is 0.715 km away from the location you searched for.
County: Staffordshire Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring
Nearest Town: Leek
Map Ref: SJ9871455940
Latitude: 53.100657N Longitude: 2.020659W
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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A grade II listed structure, Historic England tells us: Wellhead. Dated 1855. Rusticated ashlar. Section of wall in all approx. 2m high has gable with date 1855 and slightly recessed niche below which originally had water spout. This is the collection point for the water of a nearby spring and may be associated with an early shrine.
Source: Historic England List ID 126850.
The well is also mentioned on the 'Holy Wells and Healing Springs' website - see their entry for 'A Staffordshire field trip: some holy and ancient wells of Staffordshire' (second entry on the page). They add: "South of the town east of the Cheddleton road is the delightful but little known Lady Well or Lady o’ th’ Dale well ... It was called the Weaver’s Well. The age of this well is difficult VCH (1996) records that it was named in the Middle Ages, it is recorded as Lady Wall Dale in the late 16th century (1587) and there was a farm belonging to Dieulacres abbey along the Cheddleton road, but the presence of St. Mary’s RC church above the well and 19th century fabric suggests it was developed by the local Catholic community. Indeed, a May Day procession was taken by children from the church every May Day, although when it ceased is unclear. The site is grade II listed and the cartouche above the well has the 1855 and some unclear initials in Gothic writing. Its structure is rusticated ashlar 2 metre high with a slightly recessed niche below originally a water spout collecting water from the spring through which water still flows ... The spout is made of a worn circular structure which may be carved head, it appears to be surrounded by stylised hair or possibly is a sun. Its waters were used for healing by local people. The approach to the well has been improved with a wooden walkway and it appears to be well preserved.
Catherine Lee, who submitted the information about this well, along with her photographs, recently visited the well: "Access is currently being restored ... The current marker / spout is Victorian. Before that, local lore maintains that there was a statue of the Virgin Mary & that worship of her there replaced worship of a pre-Christian goddess or spirit of the well. The area - & the modern housing estate there - is named Ladydale for the well."
Catherine adds directions for finding the well: "Ladywell can be found by going to Cauldon Close & following the path down by the wasteground towards the stream. Once on the path, ignore the walled path to the left & the continuing path to the right & instead head ahead on the path towards the field & woods. Access to the well is on the left before the footbridge to the field access".
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