Lady's Well

As I have taken up freespiral’s holy well challenge, I couldn’t leave Northumberland without going in search of the beautiful 'Lady’s Well', Holystone, near Rothwell.

A short walk, (which must be lovely without the howling gale and mud!), brought us to the little glade within which is the well. This started life as a stone water tank, fed by a natural spring, and probably dating from Roman times, as it is on a Roman road. It was first known as 'St Ninian’s Well', as this saint was supposed to have stopped here and blessed it. Later there was a convent built around here and the name 'Lady’s Well' came into being.
 
The cross was added in the 18th century and the statue that can be seen in the extra picture was brought from Alnwick. This is said to be Paulinus, an early Christian missionary who later became the first bishop of York. Legend has it, and the words on the cross say this, that at Easter AD627 Paulinus baptised 3,000 people at the well. It may be that he did such a thing, but he did not do it at that time, as it is well documented that he was in York then, baptising King Edwin. And I know this because I am reading a book about events at this time!! There is an altar-like stone close by, which is supposed to be the holy stone that gave the village its name. There was a collection of old coins that had been at some time laid there.
    
A lovely peaceful spot . . . and the sun came out briefly just as we arrived.