<< Our Photo Pages >> Hartwell Springs - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in England in Buckinghamshire

Submitted by DavidCWoods on Sunday, 10 March 2013  Page Views: 26573

Springs and Holy WellsSite Name: Hartwell Springs Alternative Name: Egyptian Well
Country: England County: Buckinghamshire Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring
Nearest Town: Aylesbury  Nearest Village: Hartwell
Map Ref: SP7939412589
Latitude: 51.806313N  Longitude: 0.849887W
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.
 4 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
 4

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Hartwell Springs
Hartwell Springs submitted by DavidCWoods : The Egyptian Well is situated directly opposite the Hartwell - the structure was apparently built during the Victorian era. (Vote or comment on this photo)
R.C. Hope quotes M.A. Smethurst of Aylesbury: "There is a local tradition that when Julius Caesar invaded Britain, he found a hart drinking at a well or spring; hence the name. The water is supposed to cure weak eyes and several other complaints"

The local village is named for the well, which may now be found down a peaceful country lane (marked as a dead end). I visited in July 2005 and the water emerges from a small pipe from the bank beside the road.

Opposite the Hartwell is a grandiose structure known as the Egyptian Well. Benches line the walls, and at the front of the building was a small recess containing the water.

Note: A very good introductory article about holy wells by Gerry Palmer, followed by a look at some to be found around Marlow and High Wycombe
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Hartwell Springs
Hartwell Springs submitted by DavidCWoods : The water is caught in a stone trough, which in turn has a niche in it allowing the water to flow into the ditch beside the road. A steady stream of water was evident on my visit - cool and clear. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Hartwell Springs
Hartwell Springs submitted by DavidCWoods : Just downhill from the Egyptian Well is another flow of water, presumably from the same source. (Vote or comment on this photo)

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Andy B has found this location on Google Street View:

Nearby Images from Geograph Britain and Ireland:
SP7912 : The Egyptian Well by Des Blenkinsopp
by Des Blenkinsopp
©2013(licence)
SP7912 : Benchmark on ivy-clad wall beside path to St Mary's Church by Roger Templeman
by Roger Templeman
©2010(licence)
SP7912 : North Bucks Way at Lower Hartwell by Des Blenkinsopp
by Des Blenkinsopp
©2013(licence)
SP7912 : Graveyard Lower Hartwell by Shaun Ferguson
by Shaun Ferguson
©2009(licence)
SP7912 : The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Hartwell House by D Gore
by D Gore
©2008(licence)

The above images may not be of the site on this page, they are loaded from Geograph.
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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 4.9km ENE 59° St. Osyth's Well (Bierton)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SP836152)
 5.9km WSW 250° Cuddington Spring Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SP739105)
 7.4km SSE 154° Ragpit Hill Cross Dyke Misc. Earthwork (SP82750601)
 7.4km SSE 154° Ragpit Cross Dykes Misc. Earthwork (SP82750600)
 7.5km SSE 152° Ragpit Cross Dyke Misc. Earthwork (SP83020598)
 7.9km WSW 254° Stock Well (Chearsley)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SP718103)
 8.1km N 5° Fair Alice well Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SP800207)
 8.1km N 6° Whittle Hole* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SP801207)
 8.2km N 9° Holy Well (Whitchurch)* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SP805207)
 8.3km N 9° Whitchurch Holy Well Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SP806208)
 8.5km SSE 154° Pulpit Hill* Hillfort (SP832050)
 8.7km SE 130° Bacombe Hill Bowl Barrow Round Barrow(s) (SP86130709)
 8.7km SE 130° Bacombe Hill Barrow Cemetery (SP86160712)
 9.1km SSE 163° Whiteleaf Barrows* Long Barrow (SP82220398)
 9.3km S 171° Princes Risborough Puddingstone* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature (SP80970338)
 9.9km ESE 118° Boddington Camp* Hillfort (SP882080)
 10.1km N 351° Scorne Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SP777225)
 10.5km S 190° The Lyde Spring* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SP778022)
 11.7km S 191° The Cop (Chinnor) Round Barrow(s) (SP773011)
 12.2km S 183° Lodge Hill Barrows Round Barrow(s) (SP78840041)
 12.2km SSW 193° Chinnor Hill Barrows* Round Barrow(s) (SP76760063)
 12.3km SSE 150° Grim's Ditch Barrows Round Barrow(s) (SP857020)
 12.5km S 181° Lodge Hill Round Barrow(s) (SP79400004)
 12.7km S 181° Lodge Hill Settlement Ancient Village or Settlement (SU79479990)
 13.4km NNW 333° Botyl Well* Holy Well or Sacred Spring (SP732245)
View more nearby sites and additional images

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Re: Hartwell Springs quality by Anonymous on Wednesday, 30 December 2020
hello there,

Has anyone gone to the trouble to test the water het e for minerals, metals or bacteria? I did a simple PH test and it seemed fine. it tastes lovely too but would be great to find out abit more

thanks to anyone who replies
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Hartwell Springs quality by Anonymous on Tuesday, 28 September 2021
    we had a friend test it for ammonia and chlorine and it came back 00.0 for both.





    I looked into getting it tested properly a while ago, there is a company quite local who can test it for around 300 pounds I think. would be up for chipping in though!





    Give us a shout if you''''re interested [email protected]





    I''''ve been going to the spring to collect the water for about 3 years, absolutely love it!
    [ Reply to This ]

Hartwell Springs Street View by Andy B on Sunday, 10 March 2013
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Holy? – Well, Well, Well! and more from Archaeology in Marlow by Andy B on Sunday, 10 March 2013
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A very good introductory article by Gerry Palmer about holy wells, going on to a look at some to be found around Marlow and High Wycombe:

Holy? – Well, Well, Well!

The veneration of water extends back “well” into prehistoric times. Ritual offerings were placed in it, shrines, temples, stone circles and avenues were built next to it, and ritual shafts and wells have been dug into and towards it. Even today people continue to throw coins into wishing-wells and fountains.

Local stories, legends and archaeology all show that the good burhgers of Marlow and its environs were by no means immune to the lure of water. A well in Bisham was said to cure people with bad eyesight, and the Hughenden dragon’s dragon-pool exists to this day next to the road from Terriers (though, somewhat sadly, its flayed skin has gone!)

But what is a holy well? A holy well or sacred spring is a well, small pond, spring or minor body of water that was revered by Christians or Pagans, usually both. Many belong to local folklore and are imbued with mystical properties, such as healing, good luck or wealth creation. Many were said to flow where a (thirsty?) saint had struck the ground with his staff.
Many of the stories of wells probably date to Celtic times.

Read more at Archaeology in Marlow

Other interesting articles from Archaeology in Marlow are:

* Professor Chris Stringer – on the early human occupation of Britain and Europe

* The Thames – a Late Stone Age Lost & Found

* Little Marlow through pre-history
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