Holy Wells

The well-house at New Inn is not known to be a 'Holy Well', but is remarkably similar in its architecture to some of the few remaining holy wells in south Wales.

At Penrhys, above the Rhondda Valley, is the chapel-like Saint Mary's Well. This is a stone building sited over a spring. It consists of a single chamber measuring 3m x 2m, with a roof constructed of overhanging slabs and a square cistern in the floor. There is an offerings niche in the upper wall. The masonry is probably late-Medieval in origin, although it has been restored several times. The well lies within a large tract of land once belonging to the Cistercian Abbey of Llantarnam, who probably established a grange (farm) there. The parish church used the water for baptisms and it was considered good for rheumatism, scrofula and sore eyes.

Maen-du Well, near Brecon, resembles the early Christian chapel/monastic cells that survive in Ireland and Scotland. This again is a stone constructed building with a high vaulted roof formed with overlapping slabs. It is a small building, measuring just 1.7m x 1.5m inside, with steps descending into a bubbling spring. A stone by the entrance is engraved 1754 with the initials WW. This could be the date it was built, or perhaps of a later rebuilding. The remains of an older well-building are evidenced by the ring of rough holders in the pool.

At Penllyn village, not far from Cowbridge, are the three wells known as Salmon's Well. The wells sit very close together. The two wells nearest the road are probably pre-Reformation in origin and there is an offerings niche in the rear wall of the second well. These had been the only source of water during drought periods that the parish could rely upon. Towards the end of the nineteenth century Dr Salmon of Penllyn Court undertook essential repair work. The springs were then named in his honour. The third well, not enclosed, was dug at the head of the dell in about 1911. With the introduction of piped water visits to the wells declined and they fell into neglect in the 1930's. The whole site became completely overgrown. However, in 2000 as a Millennium Project, the three wells were cleared of undergrowth and debris and the masonry restored.

The New Inn well-house is similar in appearance and size to Saint Mary's Well, Penrhys. It too stands in the lands of a medieval Cistercian grange. It is possible, although we cannot be certain, that the well-house stands on the site of a much earlier well.

In his book 'The Holy Wells of Wales', first published in 1954, Francis Jones lists almost 1200 wells in Wales. The author compiled his research from libraries, archives and antiquarian journals - some of the information being several years old at that time. In the 50 years since, many change have taken place in our rural landscape and several of these wells can no longer be found. The chances are that many have crumbled away, been in-filled or their materials, where there was a structure, have been salvaged for another project. Some have been lost forever. Only a small proportion on that list had any structure or building associated with them.

A current record of wells, springs and spas in Wales has yet to be prepared, but it is reasonable to assume that a large percentage of the wells in Francis Jones' list will never be found.

The well-house at New Inn is not known to be a 'Holy Well', but is remarkably similar in its architecture to some of the few remaining holy wells in south Wales.
	At Penrhys, above the Rhondda Valley, is the chapel-like Saint Mary's Well. This is a stone building sited over a spring. It consists of a single chamber measuring 3m x 2m, with a roof constructed of overhanging slabs and a square cistern in the floor. There is an offerings niche in the upper wall. The masonry is probably late-Medieval in origin, although it has been restored several times. The well lies within a large tract of land once belonging to the Cistercian Abbey of Llantarnam, who probably established a grange (farm) there. The parish church used the water for baptisms and it was considered good for rheumatism, scrofula and sore eyes.
	Maen-du Well, near Brecon, resembles the early Christian chapel/monastic cells that survive in Ireland and Scotland. This again is a stone constructed building with a high vaulted roof formed with overlapping slabs. It is a small building, measuring just 1.7m x 1.5m inside, with steps descending into a bubbling spring. A stone by the entrance is engraved 1754 with the initials WW. This could be the date it was built, or perhaps of a later rebuilding. The remains of an older well-building are evidenced by the ring of rough holders in the pool.
	At Penllyn village, not far from Cowbridge, are the three wells known as Salmon's Well. The wells sit very close together. The two wells nearest the road are probably pre-Reformation in origin and there is an offerings niche in the rear wall of the second well. These had been the only source of water during drought periods that the parish could rely upon. Towards the end of the nineteenth century Dr Salmon of Penllyn Court undertook essential repair work. The springs were then named in his honour. The third well, not enclosed, was dug at the head of the dell in about 1911. With the introduction of piped water visits to the wells declined and they fell into neglect in the 1930's. The whole site became completely overgrown. However, in 2000 as a Millennium Project, the three wells were cleared of undergrowth and debris and the masonry restored.
The New Inn well-house is similar in appearance and size to Saint Mary's Well, Penrhys. It too stands in the lands of a medieval Cistercian grange. It is possible, although we cannot be certain, that the well-house stands on the site of a much earlier well. In his book 'The Holy Wells of Wales', first published in 1954, Francis Jones lists almost 1200 wells in Wales. The author compiled his research from libraries, archives and antiquarian journals - some of the information being several years old at that time. In the 50 years since, many change have taken place in our rural landscape and several of these wells can no longer be found. The chances are that many have crumbled away, been in-filled or their materials, where there was a structure, have been salvaged for another project. Some have been lost forever. Only a small proportion on that list had any structure or building associated with them. A current record of wells, springs and spas in Wales has yet to be prepared, but it is reasonable to assume that a large percentage of the wells in Francis Jones' list will never be found.