HOLY WELLS OF BRITAIN

What is this website?

This website is a digital gazetteer of Britain and the Isle of Man's surviving, lost, and destroyed holy wells, with a focus on their historical significance. It is currently a work in progress, now ongoing for over a year.

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Well of the Week:

What is a "holy well"?

Essentially, a "holy well" is a source of water that is (or was) viewed as sacred from a religious perspective. In particular, this website focuses on the medieval cult of holy wells that once existed in Britain. Read more

Statistical information:

Currently, this website records a total of 2725 holy wells in Britain, and 49 on the Isle of Man. Of those, around 19% have been destroyed, roughly 63% still exist, and the locations of the remaining 18% have been lost.