Newsletter 06

the Eye in the

Issue 6May 2003

T h e N e w s l e t t e r o f t h e W E L L S P R I N G S F E L L O W S H I P

Landscape

Page 2 Editorial

Page 3 Events 2003

Page 4/5 Up the Spout

Page 6 Shadows in a Landscape

Page 7 Ripples/Letters

Page 8/9 Goytre Holy Well

Page 10 AGM Report

Page 11 Green Man Harvest

Page 12 Renewal/Application Form

Page 13 Finances

Page 14/15 Virtuous Well Trellech

c o n t e n t s

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The Eye in the Landscape

May 2003

Secretary: Jan Shivel, 5 Gladys Place, Llanfoist, Monmouthshire, NP7 9NHTel: 01873 855474 Email: [email protected]

his is primarily a recap of 2002 and a pattern is emerging of certain regular events.

• TheyearlyweekendoutingtoStNon’sRetreatCentre(thisyear17/18May).

• Eluned’sDaywalk1stSundayinAugust• Christmassocial.• Sprinkledinwehadeventsatother

wellsalongEluned’strail/TrefecaandLanddewandatTrellech.

AlotofworkhasgoneonbehindthescenestoprepareforthecompleterestorationofTrellechandtheestablishmentofEluned’sTrailandtherehabilitationofwellsalongit. Therehavebeensomeinterestingdevelopments-meetingAllenMerediththeyewexpertwhoidentifiedanewsiteasEluned’swell.HeaskedustodowhatwecouldtorestoreawellinNorthWalesandwewenttherelateMarch2003. Wearebeingaskedtotakepartinmoreandmorerestorationworkandouraimistotryandinvolvelocalpeoplewheneverpossible.Wehavebeenaskedtocleanup.

• Longtown,Herefordshire.villagewellandPatrishowWell,Powys• MonmouthshireCountrysideserviceshaveinvitedusbackontotheirwalks

programandtherewillbethreewalkshighlightingwellsinthecounty. WehavesuccessfullyfundraisedforTrellechandtheFfynnonBedrprojectandhopefullywillseeabitmoresuccessinthefutureaswearenowacharity. ManythanksforDavid’swonderfulinitiativegettingourfinancesreadytobecomeacharityandenthusiasticallythrowinghimselfintotherigorsofclaimingtaxbackfromyourcontributions. Wehavebeguntokeeprecordsoftimespentandexpensesinvolvedwithlongtermprojectsasthesefigurescanbeoffsetagainstgrants. Wecontinuetomakecontactandbecontactedbyothersfascinatedbywells.ValJonesandherhusbandhavejoinedusfromCardiff.Theyhavebeenvisitingwellsforyearsandwelookforwardtothenintroducingustosomeoftheirfavouritewellsites. I’vetoldseveralofyoustalwartsseveraltimes,butI’llsayitagain.WhenIstartedWellspringsitwasameansofconvincingtheauthoritiesthatwewereabonafidegroupasawaytoraisefunds.Wearewellonthewaytoachievingthatobjective,butowthatIhavemetsomanyofyouanddiscoveredyourgiftsanddiverseinterests,IrealisethatIhavemuchtolearnfromyou.IwouldlovetohearwhatyouwantfromWellsprings,whatyouwouldliketoexploreandwhatlittlebitofheavenyouwouldyouliketointroduceusto!

Jan

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March 9 - AGM at Llantarnam Abbey, Gwent March 29 & 30 Ffynnon bedr, near Llanwrst, Denbighshire heavy duty, heave ho of stones blocking ancient wellsite.

April 13 - Well walk in Penallt, Monmouthshire area. Starts 2:30 from the Bush Inn pub, Penallt (SO 523 093)

May 17 & 18 - Pembrokeshire wells weekend. Stay at St Non’s Retreat Centre (£25 bed & half board), well clean & visits to several sites.

June 14 - Well walk in Cross Ash, Monmouthshire area. Starts 2 PM at Three Salmons pub, Cross Ash (SO 399 194)

June 22 - Trellech (Mons) Festival - an interpretive event at the Virtuous Well 2.30pm.

July 20 - Longtown, Herefordshire. We are invited to join Longtown’s Village Pride group and do a bit of tidying around one of their town wells.

August 3 - Annual Eluned’s Day Walk, Breconshire. Meet 2.15 at Pilgrims’ Restaurant, Brecon Cathedral Close, for moderate, 4 hour walk that takes in the site of Eluned’s decapitation & the true spring caused by that event.

September 6 – Hill, Canal & Holy Well Walk, 10am to 3pm. Do the whole shebang or meet at the Horseshoes Pub, Goetre, at 1.00pm to do the last leg up to the holy well.

October - Still open for offers!

November - Still open!

December 6 - Christmas social. Fancy a return visit to Caerleon & Caerwent with proper walking shoes this time? or you suggest some place.Ideas, more information or directions from Jan 01873 855474

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May 2003

I visited Ffynnon Clawdd Llesg on Boxing Day. My first problem in locating the site was that although Cymdeithas Ffynhonnau Cymru have rightly given the map reference of Meifod as SJ 1513. Ffynnon Clawdd Llesg is actually situated about 1½ miles to the south in Spout Wood, map ref. 154109, the nearest settlement being Clawdd Llesg Farm. It is marked by a ‘W’ and a little blue circle on the 2 ½ “ Llyn Efyrnwy a Llanfyllin Explorer map. Clawdd Llesg means ‘small or insignificant’ dyke land, in fact, just to the west of Clawdd Llesq Farm, one may espy a short length of dyke either side of the road.

It would also have been helpful if Nia Rhosier had given a map reference for Trefedrid, especially since it does not appear on the map. However, self less fellow that I am, ever concerned about the greater good of

the Wellsprings Fellowship anyway, the pubs weren’t open I discovered that Trefedrid is the cottage on the right hand or eastern side of the road on the northwest corner of Spout Wood at map ref. 148111. You may park here at the entrance to Spout Wood.

From here, follow the Forestry Commission track for a couple of furlongs or so, crossing two culverted streams in quick succession. If you look upstream to the right when you cross the second, you will see the wooden bridge, which is shown in the photograph. Carry on for a few yards more and you will observe a short length of white plastic ribbon tied to a bamboo cane plus a pile of sticks, all of which mark the beginning of the short track leading to the well.

The well itself can be found just over the wooden bridge, which spans the small stream cascading down the hill, under the Forestry Commission track and eventually meets Afon Efyrnwy (the River Vyrnwy)

about half a mile away. Its source is a disappointingly prosaic metal pipe from which the water flows into an irregularly shaped and rather charming stone basin, obviously man made, with its quota of watercress and, I suspect, in season, tadpoles and other pond life. As well and stream are so very near to each other, the outflow of the one flows into the other almost immediately.

From the well, there is a fine view over Dyffryn Meifod towards the village of Meifod itself.

Ffynnon Clawdd Llesg to Ffynnon Ddu Chris Naish December 2002

Up the S p o u tFollowing an article by Nia Rhosier that appeared in Cwmdeithas Ffynhonnau’s Newsletter, Chris Nash, intrepid Wellsprings explorer extraordinaire, went in search of watering holes in December 2002.

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........... Later (a wet and soggy Monday)FFYNNON DDU (SN986119) AND FFYNNON DYDECHO (SN 984120)

On 30th December, on a day which m y S c o t t i s h c h u m s w o u l d h a v e described as ‘gey dreich’, just for you and the Wellsprings Fellowship, as promised, I went and visited the two other wells at Foel on the A458T between Welshpool and Dolgellau which were mentioned by Nia Rhosier in the summer issue of ‘Llygad y Ffynnon’.

As the Cann Office Inn at nearby Llangadfan was closed, I was unable to partake of any liquid refreshment to sustain me on my journey. I was therefore able to devote more time to my mission and absorb even more rain than I really wanted to.

Just like Ms Rhosier, I parked at Foel on the banks of the Afon Twrch and walked a couple of furlongs westwards along the main road to the turning to the right to Garthbeibio Church which is dedicated to St. Tydecho.

At the beginning of a stiff climb up to it, one meets a little triangle of roads, consisting of one turning to the right and then, shortly after, another one, both of which merge into one road which follows Cwm Twrch past Penybont Form and eventually peters out at Caer Gof further up the valley to become a cart track.

At the first turning to the right, in the hedge bank in front of me, I found what I presume to be Ffynnon Ddu whose waters were cascading merrily down the bank and disappearing into a Powys County Council road drain. It may not be quite so impressive in drier weather.

Continuing my ascent, I finally reached St. Tydecho’s church and the church house.

Go through the gate between the two and follow the vestigial track across the field. In the next field beyond that you will find St.Tydecho’s rather disappointing well just

before you reach the other side of the field.

The well consists of a small, almost square, stone trough which is itself dry although at the time of my visit, springs were welling up all around it and Lilliputian torrents were thundering down the hill either side of it. As Ms Rhosier so rightly observed, the surrounding area was exceedingly boggy.

If you carry on through the gate and down the drive from the nearby cottage to the main road, you very conveniently arrive at the Dyffryn Cafe which Ms Rhosier also mentions but, alas, once again, she omitted to supply its map reference which is 980120. Although it wasn’t open when I trudged past it, it may prove to be a welcome watering hole when the monsoon season has passed.

I also had a quick butchers at the Penegoes Wells near Machynlleth dedicated to St. Cadfarch (map ref. 769009). As Ms Rhosier says, it is impossible to park on the main road. It is therefore advisable to turn southwards into the yellow road just before the wells which leads to Forge (or, as we Welsh scholars call it, Bontfaen) and find somewhere to park along it.

Although the wells are now neglected and overgrown, when I first became acquainted with them in 1986, they had recently been cleaned out and were in excellent condition.

Because they are so near a main road, they really deserve to be tidied up and made more accessible to the general public. They could also do with a discreet sign, at the very least. If I didn’t know that they were there, I would be hard pressed to find them, since they are hidden from view by a thick hedge.

Chris Naish

(Champion Frog Juggler)

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May 2003

Despite gales, five stalwart souls joined Mike Scott

Archer to view wells and learn some local history.

Mike walked us past the village field, excavated in September, where they found some remains of a medieval reeve’s house. He pointed out a community water supply tap-now dry. Then it was up, up,up (almost to heaven) to view a lovely ‘travellers’ well’ alongside a disused cart track. Down to the most welcoming Wagon & Horses, alongside the Monmouthshire canal, where we ate, drank & were merry.

So merry. in fact, we

decided to extend our pleasure by walking to Bwlch. Before crossing the C17th bridge over the Usk, we went down to the river to view another village well, close to the water’s edge.

Once over the bridge, Mike took us the scenic

route, over fields to view the Llwynfedwen stone (SO 1582 2038), at 4.27m it is one of the tallest in Wales and may have marked an Usk ford.’

A farm lane brought us onto the A40. After a short stint, we took a footpath that took us adjacent to the infamous Llygadwy well. (This was written up in the

Eye in the Landscape, December.2000) and supposedly gave forth artefacts from Celtic times up to present day copper pennies. The Time Team debunked the finds from the well but no one can deny, there is truly a spring there.

We visited another couple of well-sites in Bwlch and headed back to the Wagon. Another memorable outing. Thank you, Mike, for organising such a fun day.Jan Shivel

Llangynidr/Blwch, Powys 27 October 2002

Shadows in a Landscape

Incidentally, the quote above is from a book on local history, edited by Mike, entitled ‘Shadows in a Landscape Llangynidr The Evolution of a Community’. It has this to say about laying the water main around 1927, “Delphine Ford ... recalled that all the trench digging and man handling of the big iron pipes was done by labourers, mainly Irish workmen. Her young brother was a tea boy who had to carry water from the well. At mealtimes the men would clean their shovels and cook bacon and eggs on them, holding them over an open fire.” Shall we try this sometime on one of our own outings?

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LettersDear Jan

One of our most recent and exciting ventures is to cooperate with Mentor Maldwyn to create bilingual booklets describing walks that link wells in the Meifod, LLanfair Caereinion and Garthbeibio areas of Montgomeryshire.

The National Eisteddfod is in that area this August and so we hope to have talks and walks organised for that week. There is funding available as it encourages tourism and work for local people. The firm that will produce the booklets is an all Wales company and this could be the first in a series of projects. I know that you have done something similar with Eluned’s Trail so you will appreciate how we are looking forward to having the wells maintained by local landowners!

Eirlys GruffyddCymdeithas Ffynhon-nau Cymru / Welsh Wells Society

Dear Madam,I purchased your booklet, Eluned’s Way, at the Brecon National Park Centre and was very in-terested. Of particular interest was the walk on August 1st.

Could you please sends details of the time and meeting point and the mileage involved in this walk. If possible, I would stay in Brecon area so as to take part. Yours faithfully, Graham Worrall, Chulmleigh, Devon (Answer: Date of this year’s Eluned’s Day Walk is Sunday, 3 August. This moderate, 5 mile walk starts from Pilgrims’ Restaurant in Brecon Ca-thedral at 2:15. After visiting Llanddew village wells & the site of Eluned’s martyrdom, above Brecon, the walk returns to the cathedral. Lasts 4-5 hours.)

Dear Jan,Thank you for organising the expedition to Ffyn-

non Bedr. Your group were very friendly and did

a fantastic job removing the rocks and boulders

from the base of the yew.

I have contacted Libby (at the Conservation

Foundation) and briefly discussed Ffynnon Bedr,

but above all, asked that the Foundation keep

Gareth Hughes, the farmer/owner, informer con-

cerning activities pertaining to the site. He is,

as you know, very interested in what we are doing

and he is the main person who is in guardianship

at the site. I hope your time in North Wales was a success,

as I felt the first stage at Ffynnon Bedr was.

All the best,

Allen Meredith

(Answer: Wellsprings travelled to Caernarvonshire

at the end of March & hauled boulders out of a

blocked well. Chris Naish’s account of this team

effort appears in the next newsletter.)

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May 2003

I guess all of us interested in wells are asked, at

some time of other, what makes a well holy? I asked the landlord of the Three Horseshoes pub this question after an excellent lunch of fried brie with cranberry sauce.

We were standing in front of his pub by the footpath sign, pointing west and marked Holy Well I.7 km. He promptly replied “because the monks used to walk past it on their way from Goytre House up over the hill to Abersychan.” Not only did he know the answer to that tricky question he told me, just as certainly, how to get there.

So I let my trusty waterhound (who turned out to be a mudpig on this excursion) out of the car and we set off down the slope.

I had visited this well about four years ago with other Wellspringers on a Monmouthshire countryside walk led by warden Tim Hancock. To tell the truth, I was so busy chatting that day, I didn’t take much notice of how we got to the well. I just remembered, it was

a bit of a climb and well

worth it when we got there on that walk.

Then it had been a wonderfully sunny day and it was a relief to get to the tree cover of the dingle we climbed up. We followed a brook on the left, passing a long overgrown quarry on the right, over a final stile and were at the well.

Tim asked me if I had

anything to say about it. I remember I wittered on about how this appeared to be a ‘travellers’ well as it is alongside an old route-way with no apparent settlement nearby. And how in times past, the well might have been maintained by travellers themselves.... and that it looked as if it was still being looked

The Holy Well Goytre Sometimes spelled Goetre Monmouthshire

SO 297505I8

Being an account of a wonderous well visitation made by Jan Shivel and her enthusiastic companion Pepper 26 February 2003

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We shall be

repeating this walk

6 September 2003

so please come along.

after as its drainage channel was clear with cut back. foliage. Tim smiled and nodded and said quietly, “Yes, I came here a few weeks ago and cleared it.”

So today, when I returned, the landlord told me it was now under a bundle of brambles. But I was happy to see when I reached the well that it is not overgrown. Its drainage channel is clogged and I thought this would make a nice project for us on a summer’s day.

An earlier traveller had fashioned a cross from beech twigs bound together with grass and placed it on top of the well to mark its holiness. The water was icy cold and I imagine was excellent for

treating sprains.I spotted a curious pile

of clear gook (ectoplasm?) above the wellchamber and climbed up to have a look at it. It looked like a large, clear, flattened mass of frogspawn, without the black bits. Unsurprisingly, it felt slimy but had no scent. I wondered if it could have been produced by the rotting paperbark birch tree that surmounts the well.

I mention all this because I know many of our members are interested in curious phenomena. Any ideas what this clear gook could be?

The mudpig and I retraced our steps and paused to explore springs in a field we’d previously

crossed. Then she tore off to wreak havoc with the local rabbits’ lifestyle and I was left to contemplate the wonders we’d discovered.

The landlord told me the original village of Goytre had been up the hillside I’d just visited; but it was wiped out in the plague. When the village came to be refounded, it was established further east on lower ground.

Now Goytre is best known for its atmospheric boat basin on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. But what order were the monks that had travelled from Goytre House and had that building originally been a monastery? This was another case of an

interest in historic watersources leading from one fascinating subject to another.

When the mudpig and I returned to the pub car park, the pub was closed. I took some photos and then noticed the old house beside the pub is named ‘Pilgrims Rest’ - another clue to Goytre’s Holy Well?

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May 2003

The Annual General Meeting was held at Llantarnam Abbey, Gwent, 9 March, 2003.

Attendance

Those present included Lyn and David Littlewood, Bron Thomas, Arthur Taylor, Carolyn Williamson, Jan Shivel, Gordon McLellan, Val Jones, Jim Carroll, Mike Scott-Archer, Jonathan Morgan.

Apologies for absence:

Jen & Roger Clive-Powell, Chris Naish, Jean Shivel, Tom Innes.

Chair’s opening remarks

Bron convened the meeting at 11 AM and welcomed members. She reported that Wellsprings is now a registered charity and that the motion the meeting would vote on later concerned the final constitutional change necessary for charitable status. She thanked Jan and David for their sterling work in achieving charity status.

Minutes of the 2002 AGM

Were approved.

Matters Arising from the Minutes

Carolyn reported that Source (the Bristol-based wells restoration group) could put £100 towards a portable water pump to be joint owned with Wellsprings but that no inexpensive water pump could be found.

Jim reported that Reg Vincent, the owner of Llanddew well, has repainted the pump beside the wellface.

Jan reported that time sheets, to keep records of volunteer hours and expenses of ongoing projects, have been produced and distributed to the officers to keep records.

Secretary’s report

Jan reported that the Wellsprings’ calendar year is beginning to develop annual events-

the St Non’s /Pembrokeshire wells weekend,

the Eluned’s day annual walk and the Christmas social.

Several other works & walks last year involved wells along Eluned’s way-a work outing at Trefeca well & another at Llanddew.

We also have enjoyed events at Skenfrith & White Castle (Mons), Llangynidr & Blwch (Brecons), Hay on Wye (Radnors), Christmas in Caerleon & Caerwent (Gwent), and Aberglasney garden & Llangathen church (Carms.) in early February.

We have worked hard this past year to secure funding for a hydrological report on the Virtuous well, Trellech (Mons). It is hoped the report will be finished soon and approved by Cadw so archaeological excavation can take place this summer under Dr. Roy Howell, Caerleon College.

We are being approached by more groups & individuals wanting information or help on wellsites.

Allen Meredith, a yew tree expert, has alerted us to a clogged well at Llanbedrycennin (Carns.) and we are going there at

the end of March to do some work.

The Longtown (Herefds) Community Pride group has invited us to come & help clear around their village well which we’re going to in July.

Jan reminded members that their projects & interests were important to Wellsprings and to please come forward with their ideas for works & walks.

Treasurer’s report

David emphasised that membership was stable at 55 & still represented the majority of our income (£469).

Expenditure was £438; up substantially from the previous year subscriptions to £12 (single), £17 (joint), £8.50 (unwaged), £21 (group), $35 (USA).

Election of officers

The following officers & committee members were nominated and elected: chair, Bronwen Thomas; treasurer David Littlewood, secretary, Jan Shivel; Yvonne van der Baan, Arthur Taylor, Mike Scott-Archer.

Motions

Jan explained that the proposed wording change of Wellsprings’ purpose had been suggested by the Charity Commission.

All these recomendations were accepted.

Meeting adjourned at 1:45 PM.

Brief Minutes of The Wellsprings Fellowship AGM

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This day had every thing: good weath er; history;

castles; a lovely garden with a charming well and scrumptious ginger cake tea; a friendly dog, and other boon companions including a Green Man!

We met by Skenfrith Castle and went into the village church, dedicated to St Bridget. Although Bridget’s well is marked across the river from the church, there is a operational tap set into churchyard wall. We noted the Celtic head over the church porch but the real stunner was a C16th map of the area in the church.

Then it was a quick march through the village, admiring commemorative horse troughs, past the Bell Inn and up to the site of Bridget’s well, now a damp patch amongst trees.

Next stop, a visit to

the well and garden of Wellsprings member Carol Bluett, 1/2 mile from White Castle. Carol had so assiduously cleaned her well before our visit that she’d sprained her wrist! Yet despite this she hefted teapot aloft and welcomed us royally with homemade ginger cake.

We could have sat a lot longer on the terrace, admiring the view, but

she urged us to climb the tower at White Castle to see the sunset. So we did! The view was superb; the sky full of fiery colours.

We started back to Skenfrith

but had a wild idea to visit the Green Man in St

Teilo’s church at Llantilio Crossenny.

There were harvest decorations aplenty in the church but we could not find the light switch. We felt our way into the north chapel, through the choir, and located the carving a stone boss at the base of an arch. Gordon held aloft his lighter, David took a photo which came out rather nicely. But alas, 1 can’t find it at the moment so you’ll have to take my word for all this!

A good time was had by all and thanks to Carol for sharing her well and garden with us.

Jan Shivel

Skenfrith/White Castle/Liantilio CrossennyMonmouthshire 6 October 2002

Green Man Harvest

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Sixteenth century gilded roof boss, Priory church of St Mary & St Cuthbert, Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire

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May 2003

Registered Charity Number 1095701

Renewal / Application FormSubscriptions for 2003 are now due

Please complete the form below in BLOCK CAPITALSEnclosed is a cheque payable to Wellsprings Fellowship for £12 (single) £17(joint) £8.50(unwaged) £21 (group) USA $35 (Please tick)

SURNAME ................................. FIRST NAME .....................................

PARTNER .......................................................................................

ADDRESS .......................................................................................

...................................................................................................

POSTCODE ....................TELEPHONE ...................................................

E-MAIL ADDRESS..................................................................................

SIGNATURE ...............................................DATE ...............................

Please tick the box below to show your agreement. It will help us raise more funds at no extra cost to you.

“I want The Wellsprings Fellowship to treat all donations I have made since 20 July 2001, and all donations I make from the date of this declaration until I notify you otherwise as Gift Aid donations.”

Notes1. You must pay an amount of income tax and/or capital gains tax at least

equal to the tax that we reclaim on your donations in the tax year.

2. You can cancel this declaration at any time by notifying us.

3. If in the future your circumstances change and you no longer pay tax on

your income and capital gains equal to the tax that we reclaim, you can

cancel your declaration.

4. If you pay tax at the higher rate you can claim further tax relief in your

Self-Assessment tax return.

5. If you are unsure whether your donations qualify for Gift Aid tax relief,

either ask us or ask your local tax office for leaflet IR113 ‘Gift Aid’.

Please send this form with your cheque to the Treasurer: cash/chq………….David Littlewood, 2 The Grove, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8YR rec…... addr…..


May2003

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FinancesWe made steady progress

during 2002, despite a major increase in our insurance

premium. Our main income continued to come from our loyal membership, which remained stable at fifty five; we paid off the remainder of the loan; and we ended the year with a final balance of £998.Income from members’ subscriptions was £469, compared to £493 the previous year. Donations were £13 (£20 in 2001).Eluned’s Walk was well attended and yielded an income of £15. Sales of leaflets were excellent, yielding £36 (£12 in 2001). Other miscellaneous sales were £7, giving total sales of £44 (£37). Our total income for the year was £605, (£551 in 2001).Expenditure was £438, much higher than the previous year (£375), due to a huge increase in insurance premiums across the voluntary sector and elsewhere. We sought alternative quotes, and the best deal was to continue to insure through BTCV, who had negotiated a new insurance scheme for Associated Groups. As a result our insurance premium increased from £30 to £135 in a full year.A new item of expenditure, £50, was for an Audit of the Accounts for 2001.The Audit Letter was issued after the last AGM, so details are given here. The main recommendation was for fixed assets to be re-valued to their net present value on an annual basis.It was also recommended that a written agreement be drawn up for future loans.Finally, that a reconciliation of the Equity Account be maintained for good order.We had to replenish stocks of the Monmouth leaflet at a cost of £24. So the total expenses were £438 (£375 in 2001).Therefore we had a surplus of £167 for the year (£176 in 2001). Turning to the Balance Sheet, we repaid the final £100 of the loan, and our Equity increased from £831 to £999. But cash on hand remained steady at £399 (£394 at end of 2001). We became a Registered Charity in January this year and can now participate in the Gift Aid scheme. This means that we can claim repayment of tax on any donations made by individuals who pay tax.This year’s subscription renewal form includes a Gift Aid Declaration which we urge you to sign. It will enable us to claim 22p for every £1 donated.Looking to the future, we need to ensure we remain financially viable. Four points are worth noting

1) Insurance costs increased last year by over £2 per member.2) Costs for the Newsletter were minimal last year.3) Subscription rates have remained the same for individual members since we were

founded in 1997.4) We are a Charity and can therefore reclaim tax on donations through Gift Aid.

Therefore we propose that subscriptions will increase from £11 to £12 for individual members and pro rata for other categories, and that the remainder of the increased insurance premium and other costs be met from reclaimed tax.In conclusion, it has taken 6 years from launch to become a registered charity, to be free of our loan, and to have built up a reserve of £400. So we are well positioned to pursue our objectives.Thank you once again to everyone for supporting us.David Littlewood, Treasurer

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May 2003

At the southeast edge of Trellech village, lies Monmouth’s most famous well.

Although its dedication is to St Anne, its reputed healing powers and the number of springs that arise within a small area give cause for its more popular name, the Virtuous Well.

The well is commemorated, along with other Trellech wonders the 3 standing stones and the castle tump on the 17th C sundial that now resides in St. Nicholas church. Once a focus for pilgrimage, the Virtuous Well is still visited by locals and foreign visitors.

The bits of cloth (including a 3rd degree judo black belt!) that visitors hang from the adjacent hazel & blackthorn trees indicate that the well is much frequented. Although residents report such rag tying is a new phenomena at the well, it is an old custom particularly practised in Scotland & England and one that certainly indicates that visitors today hold the well in high regard.

There is much recorded lore about the well. Earlier drawings of it show it as it appears now. a horseshoe shaped well basin with an alcove at its eastern end. As recently as 1992, this description of it was included in a book on drovers’ routes in South Wales1.

‘Its waters ... flow from four springs, three of which contain iron, and each one was assigned to the cure of a particular disease. As the sick waited their turn for a cure, they were able to sit on the stone seats, which now provide the walker

with a good resting place.”Those who have visited the well in the

last few years know this is no longer the case. The well chamber is often flooded, accumulated debris, grit and stepping stones have raised the floor level to such a degree that the stone seats no longer serve that purpose but are used instead as an access to get to the well alcove.

The Virtuous Well, one of the wonders of Trellech & Monmouthshire, is in danger of silting up. And, as is so often the case with ancient water sources, it could degenerate into a bog.

The Wellsprings Fellowship, is concerned about the well. The site is owned by Mr & Mrs Harold Evans of Court Farm and is scheduled, by Cadw, as an ancient monument. Permission has been granted by the well owners to restore the site.

Wellsprings has managed to secure partial funding, through the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty grant, to pay for an initial Hydrology report and the archaeologist Dr Ray Howell will be excavating the well site when he is in Trellech for this summer’s dig.

Funding bodies like to see the local community show an interest in projects. And Wellsprings welcomes local interest too. Over the years, we have been greatly helped by community councillors Sheila Appleton and Alan Poulter. Stephanie Poulter wrote the text for a

Trellech’s Virtuous WellSO 503 051

Rep

ort


May2003

15

WELSH HISTORIC MONUMENTS.... either side of this are rectangular niches in the upper part of the wall. The central arch is 0.4 m. across and 0.8 m. high. The pool is 0.5 m. in diameter, and has a raised rim. Around the wall inside the recess is a narrow ledge. The side walls of the structure curve inwards at their western end and have stone benches along them 0.3 m. high. The entrance is down three steps on the S side of the W end. Corresponding with them, on the M side, is a low wall 0.4 m. high. The struc-ture ends at the W end with a narrow outlet 0.3 m. wide where the water disappears in a channel and pipe curving slightly towards the NW. The floor of the structure is covered with stone flags. All the stonework appears in good condition.

Geology, Hydrogeolgy and Hydrology of The Virtuous Well R736HY02/1848 (Draft)LocationThe Virtuous Well is located with a pastoral fields approximately 200 m east of the village of Trellech, Monmouthshire at National Grid Reference (NGR) SO 503 051. The well is located on the south side of a north west running valley at approximately 205 m above ordnance datum. Current ConditionThe well comprises of a 4.5 m wide ‘horse shoe’ shaped stone built structure with flagstone floor, that stands approximately 1.5 m high. The inside level of the structure is approximately 300 min lower that the surrounding ground level. Steps in the open end of the ‘horse shoe’ lead to the base of the well.Water’s rise into the structure from a stone basin set into the rear wall (east side) of the ‘horse shoe’ shaped structure. Stone bench seats are located on the north and south sides.A 0.3 m wide drainage channel is present in the north west corner of the structure. The channel directs water towards a near by stream. History The structure can be dated back to 1689. The well is believed to have supplied drinking water to the village up until the mid 1950’s when mains waters was suppliedPROPOSED REHABILITATION WORKSThe rehabilitation works proposed by the Well Fellowship Society are intended to return to the well to what is believed to be its original form.It is believed that the floor level of the structure was originally between 250 inin and 450 mm lower than at present and that water would have been above the base. The water in the structure would have flowed out through the drainage to the stream to the north.The Well Fellowship Society is proposing to remove the current flagstone floor and to excavate to the original floor level.Water below the current flagstone floor will be moving permeable sub base materials and exiting the structure via an existing drainage system to the adjoining stream. There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that the base of the well was raised as recently as 20 30 years ago to allow visitors to the monument a dry access to the basin located on the cast side of the well.CELTIC Technologies Ltd, February 2003 6 Well Fellowship Society

Monmouthshire County Council leaflet, Wells and Springs and Things, which details a walk that starts and ends at the Virtuous Well. And for many years she and Alan have led numerous walks that have included the well, and its lore.

The Virtuous well, its precious gift of life sustaining waters, its charming setting and its ancient masonry is truly a Trellech wonder and one well worth preserving. The springs have flowed for aeons and, no doubt, will flow for aeons to come, but each generation must maintain its heritage

to pass on to future generations. The time has come to restore the

Virtuous well. Anyone who in interested in helping or learning more about this fulfilling work, please contact Jan.1The Drovers’ Roads of Wales 11 Pembrokeshire and The South, Shirley Toulson and Caroline Forbes. Whittet Books Ltd, 1992

Illustration of the Virtuous Well by Helen Scourse from the leaflet Wells and Springs and Things

photograph Virtuous Well - John Weston 2000 - http://www.data-wales.co.uk/trellech.htm

Newsletter 06

Documents

forestry commission

ffynnon clawdd

current flagstone

floor level

stone seats

drainage channel

works amp

short length