Just a couple of bibliographical points:
I noticed that in the General Reference section on the Holy-wells-web that
the list didn't show the reprint of R. C. Hope's 'Legendary lore...' which
was published in facsimile by Singing Tree, Detroit in 1968.
Also, the list of wells-related books on Wales didn't list the American
version of Milner's 'Authentic documents relating...' which was published,
I believe in 1810.
Harding.
>From: Katy Jordan <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>To: Rik NA <[log in to unmask]>
>CC: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Holy Wells or Holy Springs
>Date: Thu, 2 Dec 1999 17:07:49 +0000 (GMT Standard Time)
>
>
>On Thu, 02 Dec 1999 14:49:25 GMT Rik NA <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> >
> > > > As I understood it, Holy Wells is a generic term. I have been told
> > > > (repeatedly) that their is no such thing as a Holy Well,(in
>Derbyshire)
> > >as
> > > > it is the water that is holy and not the well. Equally, there are
>wells
> > >that
> > > > are baptistry's (for example Madron) which by definition one can
>call
> > >Holy
> > > > Wells, as this reflects their use.
> > >
> > >Isn't this quibbling? A well is a place where water wells up from the
> > >earth.
> > >Without the water there is no well. The water is the well is holy.
>The
> > >structure is a well-head or well-house, not the well itself. Imho,
> > >naturally
> > >;-)
> >
> > Yup, I could not agree with you more, however the reason they defend
>this
> > distinction so vehemently in Derbyshire is that the Well Dressings are
> > designed to venerate water not Wells, so despite the cries of no fair
>from
> > traditional Well dressing communities, people are starting to use flower
> > boards where their is no Well, built around a bucket or whatever of
>water,
> > using this justification. Hence the reason for the distinction in the
> > county. Baptistries, were mentioned just because the water is/was used
>for a
> > Christian purpose, as opposed to sites that indulge in divination and so
>on.
>
>Oh, right - yes, I thought it was odd when I was in Tideswell back in
>September
>and they looked at me as if I was mad when I asked where the wells were.
>
>I have always vaguely discounted well-dressing as being much to do with
>holy
>wells, exactly because of the Derbyshire attitude you mention. And yet I
>realise this is not consistent now that people elsewhere have made quite a
>tradition of dressing their holy wells.
>
>I guess that to be a well the water should be flowing or running - a
>'living
>spring', no less. (There could be a journal title in there somewhere ;-)
>
>
> > >
> > > >
> > > Often icons and
> > > > saint statues are placed in wells which might also account for a
>Wells
> > >Holy
> > > > status. However, overall it is not a good general term.
> > > >
> > >
> > >Nevertheless, it's the one which has been generally used to describe a
>wide
> > >range of 'special' wells over the last few hundred years. I don't have
>any
> > >problems with that. You have to have a general catch-all term, then
>you
> > >define
> > >or clarify it to explain your use of it in context. Suits me.
> >
> > Again true, but it is infuriating that in some counties a lot of people
>do
> > not understand that a Holy Well is a generic term for this sort of site,
>and
> > know Wells as Well, by site name, or by activity. Hence, the term albeit
>it
> > all we have is a bad one.
> >
>
>Yes, point taken, you always have to explain that 'well' often means
>'spring'.
>I always say 'welling up' which gets the point across. I still like 'holy
>well' though - it's been around a long time and has authority. e.g. I may
>be
>a new-fangled Information Professional, but when you get right down to it
>I'm
>still a Librarian.
>
>Katy
>
>******************************************************
>Katy Jordan
>Faculty Librarian, Engineering & Design
>Library & Learning Centre
>University of Bath
>BA2 7AY
>Tel: 01225-826826 x5612
>******************************************************
>The Holy Wells Web - Gateway to Waterlore
>http://www.bath.ac.uk/~liskmj/holywell.htm
>******************************************************
>
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