Wellhead

The streets were busy last night and our car parked some distance from our meeting, in an area we don't usually see, so it was a delightful surprise to find this well head tucked away in a side street. By then it was too dark for a photo so we returned after our U3A Geology meeting this afternoon.

Instantly recognisable, it is of similar design to that opposite the C18 house Hermits and Termits (and blipped some time ago by Snowcycle), in the same part of town; the street on which it lies was a major thoroughfare at the time.


There is no plaque but on opposite sides of the pointed 'cap' are the gracefully carved inscriptions: JC 1797 and May 3rd 1797, thus a contemporary of that referred to above. Described by British Listed Buildings as Wellhead (no longer in use) with moulded and corniced square-plan plinth and smooth ashlar obelisk top. Round metal plate to street front. Now set in walled recess facing pavement, it is Category C listed. Little is known of its origin; it is not connected to a piped water supply and may be sited over a spring.