isn't it likely to be due to the fact that people were more dependent on
water supplies and journeys took more than 20 minutes. I wonder whether the
habit of tying things to vegetation round water sources has its origin as a
method of identifying the location from afar. E.g. flags. If there were
less people around there would ipso facto be less people to ask directions.
I say 'people' because I can't believe that pilgrims had a monopoly on the
need to visit water sources. I suspect that many of the users of such wells
would have been itinerant pedlars who would have had spare cloth fragments.
I would draw an analogy with stone cairns which in many cases I suspect are
a longer-lasting version of beach sand castles and completely deficient in
the 'ritual significance' beloved of the bemused archaeologist.
But I'm open to comment.
regards
john a w lock
----- Original Message -----
From: Bea Hopkinson <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>; <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2000 4:53 AM
Subject: Re: Introduction - and clooties
> Rich,
> Rich,
>
> In musing on your post and the fact that so many of these wells are
> reported as derelict, do you think it possible that their origins date
> back to a period when there were many more pilgrims on the road than
> there are today. What pilgrims remain are no longer walking long
> distances but flying to centers like Lourdes, Jerusalem, Mecca, and
> places in Ireland (can't recall the names of the island retreat). If
> this is so, then these local wells, now derelict except for rag symbols,
> must reflect the practices of earlier pilgrims which had a practical
> purpose, i.e. they were hurting.
>
> The other question I have concerns the water in these holy wells.
> Nobody has reported on whether it is fresh or salt or brackish. A
> question, as you all know, I am intensely interested in! If anyone can
> fill me in on this aspect it would be most appreciated.
>
> Bea
>
>
> On 8/15/00 1:28 AM Rich Pederick writes:
>
> >
> >
> >Bea,
> >
> >Clooties are those pieces of rag traditionally tied to
> >trees near to holy wells as a means of healing an
> >affliction. Rag well = clootie well. Scottish dialect i
> >think. Supposedly, a pilgrim with an injury or disease
> >could find healing by tearing a strip of clothing from the
> >affected part of his/her body and tie it to the tree. When
> >it rots away so the injury is supposed to disappear.
> >
> >Cheers,
> >
> >Rich
> >
> >----------------------
> >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
> >
>
>
> Beatrice Hopkinson 73071,327@compuserve
>
>
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