Many years ago Ngaio Marsh wrote a perceptive detective story on this
theme, "Dead Water." I've been researching holy springs for some time, but
the Wells-and-Spas List is new to me. Medieval accounts of miraculous
healings can be quite similar to the original source you quote here, though
naturally without the New Age touch! Aline Hornaday
At 12:56 PM 7/31/00 +0100, you wrote:
>Dear Fellow List-Members
>
>It strikes me that the following exchange from the Wells-and-Spas List has
>potential for those of us interested in how stories of the miraculous develop.
>At one level the original material is ludicrous (the opening comment from a
>list member is typical of a number of postings); at another it's quite
>revealing.
>
>Enjoy!
>
>Graham Jones
>
>Forwarded message:> From [log in to unmask] Wed
>Jul2616:30:54 2000> Reply-To: [log in to unmask]> In-Reply-To:
><[log in to unmask]>
> > Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2000 16:31:34 +0100 (GMT Daylight Time)
> > Priority: NORMAL
> > X-Mailer: Simeon for Win32 Version 4.1.5 Build (43)
> > X-Authentication: none
> > MIME-Version: 1.0
> > Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
> > Subject: Re: Healing well
> > From: Rich Pederick <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > X-List: [log in to unmask]
> > X-Unsub: To leave, send text 'leave wells-and-spas' to
> [log in to unmask]
> > X-List-Unsubscribe:
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> > Sender: [log in to unmask]
> > Errors-To: [log in to unmask]
> > Precedence: list
> >
> > I guess i shouldn't laugh, but that really is a terribly
> > funny article. The workman being inspired to lose weight
> > and enrol on a college course. Pilgrims taking the mud from
> > the skip. Hysterical. Thanks for that.
> >
> > Tee! Hee!
> >
> > Rich
> >
> > P.S. Send this on to Fortean Times, they'll love it!
> >
> > On Wed, 26 Jul 2000 16:16:13 +0100 (BST) NSAD Student
> > <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > > I was recently given a cutting from the Eastern Daily Press of Wednesday
> > > 21 June, about this healing well at Walsingham, and it makes fascinating
> > > reading:
> > > "Val Goodsell did not dream she was destined to tap into the religious
> > > spirit of a Norfolk shrine village when she ordered some building work to
> > > be done. The discovery of a well behind her candle shop in
> Walsingham has
> > > prompted strange goings on. and she is approaching experts to test the
> > > water to see if there is any explanation for the bizarre phenomena. The
> > > village is famous for well water which allegedly has healing properties.
> > > People travel from far and wide to be sprinkled withholy water from the
> > > Anglican shrine.
> > >
> > > Village folklore has long suggested there was a second well with healing
> > > properties and the discovery of the structure during building work behind
> > > Vals candle shop may resolve the mystery. As builders began to dig down
> > > the structure, they began to experience strange things. One kept feeling
> > > uplifted while working on the excavation and another was motivated to
> lose
> > > weight and enrol on a college course to get further
> qualifications. Other
> > > people who have clambered down reported similar effects and pilgrims
> > > visiting the village have even taken mud from a skip in the hope it has
> > > healing qualities.
> > >
> > > Val said the effects of the well had been consistent for all who had been
> > > down. "They have been getting very excited. It is that kind of
> fervour",
> > > she explained. Jamie Foulds, who visited the well, said: "It just felt
> > > very sort of calming. It is hard to explain really."
> > >
> > > Council officials are to test the waters, an independent study may be
> > > commissioned and local clergy are blessing the well tomorrow. Val is
> > > keeping an open mind about the issue. "If something brings hope to
> people
> > > then that is half the battle for them if they have various ailments," she
> > > said."
> > >
> > > I'm sorry it was rather long to reproduce fully, but I couldn't possibly
> > > leave any of it out. Enjoy!
> > >
> > > Best wishes,
> > > Jenny
> > >
> > > On Thu, 20 Jul 2000, Janet Bord wrote:
> > >
> > > > >Reply-To: "Brenda Harry" <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > >From: "Brenda Harry" <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > >To: "Janet Bord" <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > >Subject: Healing well
> > > > >Date: Tue, 4 Jul 2000 16:29:38 +0100
> > > > >MIME-Version: 1.0
> > > > >X-Priority: 3
> > > > >X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
> > > > >X-Mimeole: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2314.1300
> > > > >
> > > > > Dear Janet Bord, My friend in Walsingham has just cleared an old
> > > > >well in her garden. It is 20 feet down and a clarivoyant has told
> her it
> > > > >goes down a further 40/60 feet. And that it is a healing
> well. We need
> > > > >advice on testing etc. I couldn't find anything on the internet
> for Karl
> > > > >Stamper whom you mentioned. Can you advise on a Well
> Association??? Kind
> > > > >regards Brenda Harry
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > To all members of wells-and-spas:
> > > >
> > > > Is there anyone out there who can help Brenda and her friend? If so,
> > > > please reply direct to Brenda as she is not a member and won't see any
> > > > responses sent to the list. From this and a later message she sent
> me, I
> > > > get the impression that the 'testing' she refers to is how to find
> out if
> > > > the well is a healing and/or holy well. Is there anyone living near
> > > > Walsingham who could take a look and ascertain whether the well is an
> > > > ordinary domestic well or something special? I somehow feel that she
> > > > shouldn't rely solely on a clairvoyant's belief that it is a
> healing well!
> > > > Brenda also asks for advice on 'liming' a well.
> > > >
> > > > Janet Bord
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> > ----------------------
> > Rich Pederick
> > [log in to unmask]
> > ----------------------
> > Living Spring Journal - THE International Electronic
> > Forum for Research into Holy Wells & Waterlore
> > http://www.bath.ac.uk/lispring/journal/front.htm
> >
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