Monument record 1445/0/2 - Holy Well

Holy Well at Alderley Edge. This well and the one adjoining it on the south-west consist of water percolating through sandstone into a modern stone trough (1).
According to (3), at the base of the cliff of conglomerate there is a dripping well. A square stoned lined basin lies between the path and the rock with a satellite basin attatched. 5 metres to the left of the well is a slow trickilng source of spring water which has been produced by a small pick cut boring into the cliff. Above the main basin there has been a crude arch carved into the rock face within which there has been two possibly three heads in bas relief also carved. Although they may be of great antiquity, these heads were crudely done and have been severly weathered so the possibility of them being of pre-Christian origin is hard to define. There are local traditions of this being a healing well, both Roeder & Graves have recorded finding bent pins and coins in this and the Wizard Well. A Holy tree once stood by the well on which strips of cloth were hung, but has since gone. Now two Yew trees stand above the well.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ87SE2.4/1964 (Index). SCH2487.

<2> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 23/26 Roeder C & Graves F S 1905 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<3> 1998, Alderley Edge Landscape Project Archive (Unpublished Report). SCH4334.