Dear Bonnie and Tom, and other wells and spas members,

found your letter, so I hadn't wiped it after all, I am a novice as regards 
e-mail so please excuse my mistake.
You will be horrified to know that when I found the well and decided to take 
care of it I had to ring about 12-15 people to find out who had 
responsibility for St Alkmund's Well , including St Alkmund's church which 
is still in Derby but no longer near the site. They did not know and one 
clergy member didn't even know about it and thought I was asking about a 
well on site. As it turns out it is maintained by the city council (I use 
the word 'maintained' very loosely !).
I am not myself a christian , but it does horrify me that that St Alkmund's 
church know less about it than I do. They eventually sent me a print out 
about St Alkmund which was full of historical  inaccuracies. Stb Alkmund's 
Well is grade 2 listed ,I dread to think what would have become of it if it 
wasn't listed. Regarding the info on St Alkmund's church Shropshire, you say 
it is near Mortimers Cross, is that a place or a landmark? I am going to try 
to get intouch with them to see if I can get some information about the well 
which may be missing here , or at least a different perspective.
I have just boughgt a book which may interest subscribers, it is called The 
Living Stream,( sub title Holy Wells in Historical Context) author: James 
Rattue, ,pub:Boydell Press. it is a slim volume for £30 but I believe the 
price reflects the research time that has been put in to it definitely e 
recommended read.
I am about to go on holiday to Wales (4th to 11th Sept) and it does not look 
likely that 'Holy Wells of Wales' that I ordered is going to turn up in 
time. I am going to a small place near Newquay , Cardigan Bay, which is 
about an hour south of Aberystwyth on the bus. does anyone recommend any 
wells or other sites to visit while I am there , bearing in mind that I am a 
public transport user and have 2 children (one 3 and one 13!) though I can 
leave them with dad for the day if push came to shove. I do not know when I 
will have chance to go again so all advice gratefully received.
Also came across a reference to a Maids well Or not sure could be named 
Maidens well in Uttoxeter , Staffordshire , I don't htink it is still 
surviving , but it was apparently excavated end of last or turn of this 
century and a column with Ogham script was found, it was also supposed to be 
haunted by an unaproachable beautiful young woman .
I hope this has been of some interest, look forward to receiving more news.  
                    Highest Regards,
                                          Elaine Greenwood-Hyde

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