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> Stephen Buckley wrote: > > > no one in their right mind would build a church in such a > situation, over a 'bache' (small valley) > > Abbeys were frequently built on low ground near a stream as a ready > source of fresh water. Although one assumes that the abbey church > itself would be built on firm ground, I believe it was not unusual for > the lavatorium to be built actually over a stream, for example. Under > these circumstances, it would not be surprising for incomplete > understanding of the local hydrography or later replanning of the > buildings to lead to there being water under the church. Of course, > this is not to deny that any particular church may indeed have been > deliberately constructed to house a particular holy well. > > On a separate point, I am intrigued by the word "bache" in this > context and wonder about its etymology? Is it related to German "bach" > (a brook) or to Celtic/Welsh "bach" (small)? Anybody know? > > Glyn Williams You should see the site! On a slope as well as over a valley, near the top of a hill; there is a lovely flat place only a stone's throw away. And the spring was prolific enough to be pretty obvious. 'Bache' is Anglo-Saxon b<ae>ce, bece: see Margaret Gelling, 'Place-Names in the Landscape', pp. 12-13, where it is described as a fairly well marked but not dramatic valley. It often has a spring at its head; it may also survive in place-names such as 'The Bage', marked near Kington, Herefs., where there is clearly such a valley shown in the contours. It looks related to the German, but isn't anything to do with Welsh 'bach' -- this can cause problems in border place-name study. In Kenelm's legend (here we go again) the saint is described as being martyred in Cowbatch. There was indeed a field of this name in the late seventeenth century; unfortunately, it's about half a mile from the church! I haven't worked out exactly where; but it may also have a spring and a valley. There are several of springs nearby, thanks to the junction of new red sandstone - which gives the runoff from fields a red colour even today - and keuper marl. Christine Buckley %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%