Hello Ross, thanks for your advice, we're definitely not trying to
search for wells with prehistoric origins, I agree that would be
impossible and that became clear soon after we 'adopted' wells and
springs to our site. 

Over the years we have expanded to include lots of 'affiliated' site
types you could say, to include things like early mediaeval crosses and
carvings up to 1000AD (which again grew out of our interest in
Christianised standing stones). 

These are now considered a full part of our site, which has made the
'megalithic' bit somewhat anachronistic but we are where we are!

As the dating of wells is so difficult we have tried to go by
'notability' rather than dating, to include folklore and intelligent
speculation. 

I probably should have grasped this one a long time ago and sought
advice here - it is a can of worms but we are keen not to 'pollute' the
'canon' (?) of notable holy well sites any more than we probably already
have. 

Over time things like Chalybeate Springs have crept in, many dating from
perhaps the 18th Century. I'm comfortable with these staying on our
listings but I'd like to try and in some way indicate sites that are not
considered 'holy wells'. 

It is a huge task but we have to start somewhere so I would ask people
help when they occasionally drop by our site, or perhaps there is
someone who would like to take it on as a 'project'?

Of the 'duff' sites that we have undoubtedly collected I wouldn't
propose deleting them, I would instead keep them, along with an
indication that we consider these to be 'questionable' (or downright
wrong). I think that would be more useful so as to 'clean up' any
misconceptions that we may have inadvertently added to.

Many thanks
Andy

-- 
==================================================================
The Megalithic Portal http://www.megalithic.co.uk
'a wonderful treasure house' - Sam Osman, author of Quicksilver
'absolutely fascinating' - Gillian Hovell, Visiting the Past Book
'excellent site' - Archaeology in Europe
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An independent, non-profit making web site and society
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On Tue, 2013-06-04 at 19:44 +0100, ross parish wrote:
> Hi Andy, and all
> 
> You've opened a can of worms there! And one recently discussed here. I would say more than half are probably not holy wells, but of course it depends on definition, a number of posts describe springs purely associated with healing. Now if these traditions are pre-Reformation does that make them holier than those post such as Gainford Spa? Afterall, its down to definition, if I have a religious sect and decided to celebrate a local spring that by our action makes it sacred. I think Megalithic portals issue is that as a topic except those with known prehistoric associations or should I say presumed ones, ones not not fit comfortably into the other more shall I say official prehistoric monuments. Those who have studied the topic would probably agree that the topic has never received the same interest or rigour of these more historic monuments amongst archaeologists and has fallen to the earth mysteries category. My personal view is the cat is out of the bag (or well) and to retro define these sites could be counterproductive especially to the many contributors who have faithfully added them ( I am not sure what you intend to do...delete them or hopefully recatogorise?). It sort of explains why the established archaeologists have avoided them for the lack of I concrete prehistoric heritage. I chortle at James's denouncements though....we've all made those assumptions, it was very popular in the early days of earth mysteries, but I liked his honesty...my first book have a few chad wells (by book title all named wells are assumed holy in James three excellent guides of course which I don't personally agree with), however reassessment was always and still will be the nature of the subject when so little real research has been done and when something as common place as a good water supply would be so common place no one bothered to record anything about it! What is great about megalithic is that people are bothering to do the research and that should be commended.
> Hope that didn't come off as a rant. I think a re-assessment is a worthy exercise if a bit late and possibly divisive. 
> I do have David's email somewhere, he might be on this mailbase of course!
> 
> 
> All the best 
> 
> Ross
> Http://insearchofholywellandhealingsprings.wordpress.com
> 
> Sent from my iPad
> 
> On 4 Jun 2013, at 18:35, "Andy Burnham" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> > Hello James R (and list),
> > I've finally got round to joining the Wells and Spas list (hello all)
> > and saw your very helpful message from a few years ago about the
> > accuracy of various reports made previously. (extracted below)
> > 
> > We like to try and keep the Megalithic Portal's holy well listings as
> > accurate as possible so if any other list members could assist with that
> > it would be greatly appreciated. 
> > 
> > Speculative listings can be useful, but it is helpful if they can be
> > indicated as such.
> > 
> > The usual way we update entries is by people adding comments to the
> > pages, this can be done anonymously without needing to log in.
> > 
> > Also, does anyone have a contact for David C Woods as I think we've lost
> > touch with him?
> > 
> > Our Holy Wells listings for England (other countries are available!)
> > www.megalithic.co.uk/search.php?query=&country=1&category=0&county=0&sitetype=45
> > 
> > Many thanks
> > Andy B
> > The Megalithic Portal
> > 
> > 
> > James Rattue wrote:
> > 
> > So...   I HEREBY REPUDIATE, DENY, AND LIKEWISE RETRACT from the accepted
> > number of 'holy wells' ALL THOSE wells, springs, and putative records
> > thereof, identified or named by me in articles and writings published
> > between 1987 and 1989, namely:   'St Mary & the Holy Spirit's Well',
> > Lyme Regis, Dorset (this, the Leper's Well, is certainly an ancient
> > site, but never had that name which was merely the dedication of the
> > chapel nearby) 'St Michael's Well, Sopley, Hampshire' (clearly a holy
> > well of some sort, if only Victorian, but that name is completely
> > unjustified) 'All Saints' Well, Hordle' (probably of no significance)
> > 'All Saints' Well, Thorney Hill' (almost certainly of no significance)
> > 'St Andrew's Well, Corton Denham' (no evidence for this site other than
> > its location)   
> > 
> > I also produced reports of St Barbara's Well, Cucklington; St Sativola's
> > Well, Charlton Horethorne; and St Cyprian's Well, Ashill, each with
> > rather pleasing drawings. All these come from Ethelbert Horne's book on
> > Somerset wells, and while the Cucklington one may have some validity,
> > the Ashill suggestion makes me wince, and 'St Sativola's' now looks like
> > the merest fancy.  
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > -- 
> > ==================================================================
> > The Megalithic Portal http://www.megalithic.co.uk
> > 'a wonderful treasure house' - Sam Osman, author of Quicksilver
> > 'absolutely fascinating' - Gillian Hovell, Visiting the Past Book
> > 'excellent site' - Archaeology in Europe
> > ==================================================================
> > An independent, non-profit making web site and society
> > ==================================================================