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This thread is very enlightening, as I read years ago (I think in a local guide for a well near Newport, Dyfed) that "treacle" was probably derived from "trickle." I'd always believed this until now -- the explanations put forth here sound a lot more plausible! > Alison Maloney will remind us that the treacle well at Binsey is famous for its > healing powers still. I wonder how many others there are? > > There's a spring down a lane called Treacle Bolley in Marlborough, for a start. > I don't know that the spring has/had any healing powers, and the story goes that > the lane got its name from an old boy who used to encourage his horse of the > hill above the lane by saying 'get along, old Treacle Belly' - but I would guess > that story has been devised to explain the strange name. > > Katy > > "Gary R. varner" wrote: > > > Thanks Stephen and Alison for the info. The information I have read states > > that the child would put a stick of licorice and drink the water--it didn't > > imply that it was for medicinal purposes, that it was done only on certain > > days (solstice I believe) on certain sacred hills and at certain holy > > wells. At times the well water was used and it sounds like it was a > > rreligious tradition but also a treat. Some references seem to go back to > > the early 18th century. I was curious if this was in some manner related to > > an ancient ritual observance or just a geographic pecularity? > > > > Can you tell me a bit more about the Liquorice Wells in Oxfordshire? > > > > Gary > > > > On Thu, 26 Apr 2001 12:18:53 +0100, stephen buckley > > <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > > >According to the 'Illustrated Book of Herbs' (1984), Liquorice has > > >'expectorant, laxative and antispasmodic actions', 'of value for coughs and > > >bronchitis, peptic and duodenal ulcers, and rheumatoid arthritis'; used to > > >sweeten and flavour, and as a natural laxative. It was grown in England > > from > > >16th C, importantly in the Pontefract area. (Self-medication from the basic > > >ingredients, without good knowledge of herbal remedies, is not > > recommended.) > > >The roots are cut up to make teas, or powdered in medicines; the extract is > > >used to make the sticks. (Does history relate whether the prepared sticks > > or > > >the roots were put into well water?) > > > > > >Christine Buckley > > > > > > > > >----- Original Message ----- > > >From: "Alison Maloney" <[log in to unmask]> > > >To: <[log in to unmask]> > > >Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2001 11:22 AM > > >Subject: Re: Licorice and Holy Wells > > > > > > > > >> Don't know how or why it started but the belief, certainly when the > > >> practice was taking place at the "Liquorice Wells" in Wychwood Forest, > > >> Oxfordshire up to the 1970s was that the water thus created was a sort of > > >> internal disinfectant & could be sipped to promote good health. > > >> > > >> Alison M. > > >> > > > > Thanks > > -- > Katy Jordan > Faculty Librarian, Engineering & Design > Library & Learning Centre > University of Bath > BATH BA2 7AY > Tel: 01225-826826 X5612 > ------------------------------------------- > http://www.bath.ac.uk/~liskmj/home.htm > -------------------------------------------