Unfortunately, I haven't had a go at the Birmingham one. Another apparent case of earlier significant wells being taken up for spa and related purposes. There's what looks like a good thread on
http://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=39853
Plus http://www.bathsandwashhouses.co.uk/archive/your-local-buildings/birmingham/
Easy enough to find them on Google. Hutton is on GoogleBooks and comes up on a search. He explains the origin of the series of springs in what is now the city centre. I seem to remember that Ladywell outflows not far from the parish church of Birmingham, St Martin's, and a fenced structure is shown in the 18th C topographical view of Birmingham. I can't remember seeing an explanation for the BVM dedication, but that's not saying much. The nearest church BVM dedication seems to be Moseley, which is quite late medieval - earlier, according to Wikipedia, it was part of Bromsgrove parish, though there was a chapel at Moseley dedicated to Mary. Wikipedia suggests that the nearby Ladypool is linked to it (but NB this was historically Worcestershire and came under Worcester Diocese; Birmingham itself came under Lichfield Diocese and Warwickshire). I'm not up to speed on local medieval religious houses who might have owned land or churches.
There are some excellent local history researchers in the city - if you get stuck, try Professor Carl Chinn.
Christine B
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Message Received: Sep 18 2015, 02:57 AM
From: "ross"
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc:
Subject: Re: Ladywell Baths
Yes the Birmingham lady well is well records by local topographers ...I am doing my holy wells and healing springs of warwickshire at the moment so if you are interested let me know.
Ross
Sent from my iPad
> On 17 Sep 2015, at 01:17, "stephen buckley"
wrote:
>
> Wondered if the name Ladywell preceded the baths building, and if at any time there had been a spring perhaps associated with the parish church if it was medieval. Found
>
> http://www.lewishamparish.com/history.html
>
> The present dedication of the church is BVM, which would tie in with Ladywell. (Looks as if the link with the Ghent church was broken by Henry V's actions against 'alien' religious houses.)
>
> Christine B
>
>
> ========================================
> Message Received: Sep 16 2015, 03:21 PM
> From: "Chris J Brady" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Cc:
> Subject: Ladywell Baths
>
> Not sure if these are relevant but thought folks would be interested.
>
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34262313
>
> Ladywell Baths, Lewisham, south London - (Grade II, 1884) When the gothic baths opened, newspapers reported that cleanliness was next to godliness as they were so close to the parish church. Innovatively, to avoid paying the water company, the owners sunk a 270ft (82m) well, yielding 8,000 gallons of water an hour. The baths have lain empty for many years and have been vandalised. Lewisham Council has struggled to find anyone to take the building on.
>
> Chris B.
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