Monument record 438/0/2 - St Elphins's Well

Site of St Elphin's well. Poss Med holy well. OS map shows St Elphin's 'Bath' as small group of buildings adjoining W side of well enclosure(1). Taylor refers to medieval deed mentioning 'le Hallumswalle' & accepts this as a reference to St Elphin's well(2). 1830 - amula or cruet used in the mass & probably discarded after the Reformation, found in the well (3). This may be the same amula that was supposedly found in filling the moat of the rectory (RN:438/4)(4). Well was later contained in a school caretaker's house, but was accessible beneath an ornamental tower attached to the house. Well demolished c.1924. Well on waste ground with no visible remains (4). 1971 - well examined by David Hill. Despite extensive later refurbishing, core of well shown to be medieval. Problems with water table & extensive 19th century alterations prevented examination of earlier phases in detail(5).

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1842-1893, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 6 inch to 1 mile - Lancashire, 1849 (Maps and Plans). SCH3844.

<2> Taylor H, 1906, Ancient Crosses and Holy Wells of Lancashire, /202 (Book). SCH256.

<3> Beamont W, 1878, Warrington Church Notes, /62 (Book). SCH3681.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ68NW24/1960 (Index). SCH2487.

<5> Grealey S, 1976, The Archaeology of Warrington's Past, /42 (Book). SCH3046.