--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 12:44:14 +0000
From: Margaret Hauser <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Rejected Oxford well
Sender: Margaret Hauser
<[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Reply-To: Margaret Hauser
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Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]>
>
>I'm still wondering what the Oxford group decided to do about the well
they >had re-discovered....At one point they were thinking that the public
>shouldn't be told about the project because of the potential for
vandalism. >I hope they have decided- as you pointed out in your note-
that once the >public is "locked out" of a site there is no way a well can
be saved. >
Since I was the person who raised the query about allowing the public to
have access to a well, I thought I'd reply to this by letting you know
about the latest developments at the Oxford well site referred to here.
Firstly, there've been a lot of interesting ideas and information on
wells-and-spas recently, so many thanks to everybody.
Secondly, I should let you know that my interest in (and fascination with)
wells is geographical, archaeological and sociological. I trained as a
geographer, am carrying out archaeological work investigating the religious
and medical history of a well site near Oxford, and work at the Refugee
Studies Centre in Oxford with anthropologists and development researchers
to whom wells are an important current interest in underdeveloped and war
torn countries. Coming from a academic background, I think it's important
to recognise the separate value of myth and fact when talking about wells
and that it's particularly exciting when documentary evidence or field
work at particular sites increase our general understanding of the
significance of wells at various points in history.
I'm very pleased to read that others share my concern that wells in Britain
should be preserved. Appleton and other villages near Oxford depended
on well water until the 1960s, my own family home in Scotland still
depends on a well in the garden for its water supply and we can never be
sure that we will not suffer the kind of conflict that is occurring in the
Balkans at the moment and have to resort to more widespread dependency on
them again in the future. Probably for the first time in history, wells
now represent a polluted and possibly dangerous water source rather than a
source to be guarded, worshipped, enjoyed and exploited because of the
purity of the water, and the
knowledge of their location is being lost. If we can reverse this trend in
any way at all, this will be an important achievement.
The well I referred to in my previous posting is on Badswell Lane, in
Appleton to the west of Oxford. It's not marked on the OS map though its
site is shown by a blip on the north side of the boundary to the lane (just
to the left of the A of Appleton on the OS 1:25,000 1992). I found a
reference to it in the Victoria County History and was interested in it
because it seemed to be at a lower level than the main spring line marked
by the village development. I eventually located the well on the ground,
almost totally concealed in the undergrowth, and was pleased to
discover from the parish meeting minutes on the village noticeboard that
the parish council was interested in renovating it. So I got in touch
with them and offered my services as archaeological advisor. A local
person who lives in Badswell Lane has become very interested in the
project and has cleared away the undergrowth. The rest of the work I've
done alone - it's been hours and hours of work! With not much more than
an archaeological trowel, a bucket and dustpan
and brush, I've uncovered a very fine stone paved area with what appears to
be a stoup in the centre, surrounded by a wall and a flight of steps to one
side. I've just completed some scale drawings of each elevation and am now
embarking on opening up the stone lined drain to the nearby ditch
and clearing the well shaft. The well shaft is the most interesting bit
of a well archaeolgically but it's also muddy and dangerous! I've also
done some digging outside the perimeter wall with some interesting results.
A vicar at the local church some years ago tried to research the history of
the well but neither he nor I have been able to find out a great deal about
it. However, I'm now writing an article using the information I've
gathered so far and hope to get the well recorded on the Sites and
Monuments record. I'd also like to get the school children involved - the
vicar I referred to above was keen they should process to it on Ascension
Day so I'm wondering if the school will resurrect this idea. At the
moment the stonework isn't very safe and I'm worried someone might steal
it. I gave a presentation about the well to the Parish Council meeting
just before Christmas and will be going again next month to report on
progress. I hope that if the parish 'adopts' it, they can raise some
money to repair the shaft edge and shore up the surrounding wall and will
generally be vigilant about its preservation and upkeep in the future.
If anyone knows anything about this well, known variously as the Badwell,
Badswell, Bardwell or Badger's Well, I'd be very pleased to hear about it.
Margaret Hauser
THE REFUGEE STUDIES CENTRE
Queen Elizabeth House
University of Oxford
21 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LA, UK
Tel: +44-1865-270724
Fax: +44-1865-270721
THE REFUGEE STUDIES CENTRE
Queen Elizabeth House
University of Oxford
21 St Giles, Oxford OX1 3LA, UK
Tel: +44-1865-270724
Fax: +44-1865-270721
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Tel: 01225-826826 x5612
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http://www.bath.ac.uk/lispring/journal/front.htm
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