A well . . . and a chapel

Having been at the mouth of the Lune River at Sunderland Point on Monday, we decided to hunt out what is regarded as the source of the river.

This is St Helen's Well at Newbiggin-on-Lune. I had never been here, but I knew SpotsOfTime had found it a while back. I was not sure where it was (it wasn't until afterwards that I found the tiniest blue circle on the OS map), but we drove through Newbiggin and then followed a footpath sign into a field, which I thought was likely. And there it was - a beautiful, deep and clear pool in a field full of Celandines. A lovely tranquil place, despite the road close by.

By the side of the well is a mound which is the remains of a medieval chapel. In another corner of the field are some more earthen banks marking a medieval settlement enclosure. It is thought that there was a very early settlement with a manor house and homestead and chapel, one which predates the later medieval village of Newbiggin-on-Lune. 

This well is traditionally thought to be the source of the River Lune, but of course there are many streams, a couple even running through the same field, and some say that the headwater of the river lies far further up in the Howgills. However, it is nice to think of this pretty spot as the source. The extra picture shows the point at which the water from the well joins with another stream and perhaps it is where this kind of confluence happens that the Lune begins to form. 

Across the road from the Well we discovered a rather nice tea shop, called appropriately enough Lune Springs, and it was a joy to be able to sit outside in the sunshine and partake of cakes and scones. (A good place to stop, have a cup of coffee, park a car in their car park and go for a walk.)