Good news: Restoration of Somerset holy St Agnes well may help women find husbands
Last updated 4/27/2010 2:47:22 PM
Restoration of Somerset holy St Agnes well may help women find husbands
An historic well in Somerset purported to help women find a husband, is enjoying a new lease of life after being lovingly restored.
St Agnes Well in Cothelstone, near Bishops Lydeard, is named after the patron saint of engaged couples – and surrounded by folklore, with the waters thought to be good for sore eyes and sprains, as well as helping ladies find a matrimonial partner.
The well is difficult to date but the Gothic style doorway gives clues to its late medieval origin - 15th to 18th Century - and marks it out as an important historic building in Somerset's Quantock Hills.
"With the well restoration you are now able to visit it and see if the folk tales are true," said Becky Wright, who's led the project. "It is great to see the support for this project and to be able to open up this wonderful site for people to visit. It's been a wonderful central point to bring people together. I love the idea of it being a lovers well, I hope it will encourage people to locate and visit their local well.
"Along with St Decuman's Well, in Watchet, and the Chalice Well in Glastonbury, St Agnes Well is a wonderful example of the Holy Wells of Somerset, the project continues as we still need to raise a further £2,500 to complete the work."
The project has so far been funded through the Quantock Hills Sustainable Development Fund and a grant from Friends of Quantock. Becky has urged visitors not to throw money into the well though because it can poison the water.
The restoration project was made possible with the help and support of Iain Porter of the Quantock Hills AONB Service and the Huntspill Project, a work preparation service for adults with learning disabilities.
It takes part in various community based activities and has been involved in clearing and helping with ongoing maintenance of the site.
To find out more go to www.wellobsessed.com
And if that doesnt work out you could always go to the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival in Ireland - thousands of hopeful lovers attending