Essex | Hampshire
WHILE the body of St. Kenelm was being brought to Winchcombe, the bearers, becoming very weary and thirsty, were obliged to stop and rest on a high down on the east side of the town. There being no water, they prayed to the Almighty, who heard their request, and answered by causing a well or spring to rise on the spot, near which was built St. Kenelm's Chapel.
There is a beautiful old well flowing from under a wayside cross here, close to the church. The cross and well were restored, by the late rector, Rev. H. Van Notten Pole.
The following charming embodiment of the local tradition and description of the well and its situation is still to be seen, inscribed in 1866 on the wall near the well, which is covered in by a dome above. The punctuation and spelling are copied exactly.
Tis said amidst these lovely glades
These crystal streams these sylvan shades
Where feathered songsters on their wing
In heavenly chorus join and sing
That Milton penned immortal lays
On Paradise and Heaven's praise.
Each object here that greets the eye
Raises the Poets thoughts on high
No earthly things their cares intrude
On lovely Ey ford's solitude
But beauteous Nature reigns supreme
And Paradise is all his theme.
W. H. C. PLOWDEN, ESQ.
The above lines were written by a friend
for Mrs. Somerset D'Arcy Irvine.
Who Restored and Embelished [sic]
this Ancient Well in the year 1866
Beside this spring Milton wrote Paradise Lost.
A. R. Shilleto : Notes and Queries, 7th S., ii. 246.
Near Lantony Abbey is an old conduit which used to be styled Our Lady's Workhouse. Its waters were reputed to be medicinal ; on the east side is a carving showing the Virgin addressed by kneeling figures. The edifice is about 6 ½ feet square ; many who washed in the waters were relieved of their infirmities.
Smyth, the learned historian of the great house of Berkeley, tells us that at Wanswell, a fount, in his days called Holy Well, had anciently been named Woden or Woden's Well. This spring, we imagine, could be easily identified, for Smyth proceeds to tell his readers that "this faire springe havinge in its course watered the meadowe grounds belowe it, compasseth well nigh three-fourth parts of Berkeley Towne and Castle, and that done falls into Berkeley haven, where its freshnes turneth salt."--Berkeley Manuscripts, vol. iii., .p 372.