Skirsgill Holy Well

I heeded freespiral’s advice and went on a well hunt.
The Penrith wells have been nagging me and I’ve avoided this one because I knew it was on private ground but after checking it out and finding an old blip of Paula’s I was encouraged to venture forth https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2046609544032816535

After doing all my various chores in town I headed out to the unpromising Skirsgill industrial estate and parked up. With it being a Sunday it was empty and so I took a deep breath and decided to brazen it out by walking through the gate and around to the front of the surprisingly grand Skirsgill House. I adopted a new posture of wilful avoidance of looking at any of the windows of the building and an intense interest in the ground, staring and gazing, deep in thought whilst stroking my chin in an, ‘I know what I’m doing and really am supposed to be here’, kind of way. I dived into the cover of a small copse and I thought I had found it. There was a brick structure (middle bottom pic) with a clear sound of running water below, rushing down to a beautiful stretch of the river Eamont. I wasn’t quite sure though so I continued along until I came across a rather spectacular water cascade, beautifully lined by luminous green moss and with a rather striking sculpture in the middle (bottom right pic). Lovely but probably not Holy. Emboldened, I cut across the front of the house and had one more look at where I felt it should be. Suddenly, without any warning and as I was trying to avoid standing on emerging bulbs, I realised there was a stiff wire mesh at my feet (it’s just by the snowdrops in the blip of the house). Beneath the mesh It was possible to make out mossy stones leading down to water below (bottom left pic). I tried to lift the mesh as much as I could; I didn’t care much if anyone saw me now. I could just make out a stone carving and a ledge (top right - which I have since read is a carving of a face with a ledge above to hold the cup for drinking). It was frustrating not to be able to go right down into it but it was firmly pinned down and within full view of the house. I was chuffed enough to have found it and then to have a red squirrel scamper past was a lovely final flourish as I headed back.

Questions, so many questions. As usual, I have absolutely no idea and can find no details as to why it became significant although it is close to the Skirsgill standing stone which may be part of an avenue leading towards nearby Mayburgh Henge. It was the first well that was visited as part of the rounds of the Penrith holy wells that was done each May.

After all that excitement I went for a quick walk to see the chaps.

Link to Jan 2021’s unexpected visit https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2797238279714376028