>Pity it's so tiny, Bonnie -- no hope of a Wellies convention being held
>there, though would be a good place to test the virtues of incubation!
>
>My only info is a Trust Handbook of 1991, acquired when they were being sold
>off cheap. Nothing in there about access to the well; there appear to be
>three pools, the last under the building. My impression on reading was that
>I would be too embarrassed to intrude on the poor so-and-sos who had paid
>£200-300 (1991 prices) for a week there. If no one posts an up-to-date
>reply, best thing might be to contact Landmark, again 1991 info:
>Shottesbrooke, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 3SW, fax 01628 825417. Or there is a
>recent book about 100 of the Landmarks, but I haven't checked to see which
>ones. The well might be included.
>
>Interestingly, Landmark's version of the building's history is that it
>started out as a late medieval chapel, then was converted in 17th C to a
>courthouse, then a cottage after 1824. The Bords don't seem to consider that
>it originated as a chapel; don't know why Landmark do. We'd have to enquire,
>perhaps when asking about access. Any volunteers?
>
>Christine B.
>
>> Christine:
>>
>> We knew Landmark Trust had the well house (Two beds. No indoor plumbing!)
>> but does that mean the site is no longer accessible??
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Bonnie
I seem to remember that a public footpath ran alongside the building and
the pools behind, so presumably that's still in existence and accessible.
When we last visited in the early 1980s there was a sign for St W's Well on
the gate, so access was allowed then. We didn't need to knock on any doors.
While I'm writing, members might be interested to know about a new book
that sounds like one for wellies: Michael P. Carroll, IRISH PILGRIMAGE:
HOLY WELLS
AND POPULAR CATHOLIC DEVOTION (Johns Hopkins University Press, January
2000, £31.50, ISBN 080186190X)
Janet Bord
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