Holy Wells: Europe

Since Time Immemorial the healing qualities of the waters of holy wells - natural springs which flow from deep within the Earth - have been recognised and sought after for the cure of ailments. While some are renowned for healing specific problems, others are visited for more general cures.

Many holy wells have a baptistry and/or chapel built over the spring or nearby, and are associated with a specific saint.

A prayer is offered to the spirit of the well (saint, nature spirit or goddess), and a votive offering left at the well or nearby. In many celtic areas small strips of cloth ("rags" / "clooties") are attached to nearby vegetation. Elsewhere a piece of silver or a pin may be left as an offering. In some localities it is customary to leave an entire garment or other item such as crutches relevant to the part of the body needing cure. Animal equipment may be left where help for an animal is sought.

Other kinds of votive offerings include rosaries, medals, crosses, religious icons and plaques.

At some sites it is the tradition to follow a specific ritual. This may be as simple as walking around the shrine a certain number of times in a certain direction, or a complex as spending the night at a certain spot before or after performing specific rites, as at Madron, where the pilgrim seeking healing should first visit the holy well - preferably on the first Thursday in May - to make suitable invocations before sleeping at St Maddern's bed to allow the healing magic to manifest.

In Secret Shrines Paul Broadhurst gives the full account of how in 1640 John Trelille was miraculously cured in this way, as testified by the Bishop of Exeter.

At holy wells where rag offerings are left the cloth may be dipped into the water and used to wash the affected part before being tied to a branch. It is said that as the rag disintegrates so the ailment will fade.

The holy well would seem to be the precurser of the modern" wishing well" - a well where it is thought that any wish will be granted. In 2006 it was reported that around £3,000,000 per year is left in wishing wells, so testifying to a continued popularity of an ancient tradition.