Religious Place In Harbottle, Northumberland
An atmospheric little pool surrounded by a grove of trees.
Set in remote grove of trees this serene pool has a magical and yet calming feel to it. As it's tucked away, you will probably find yourselves the only people here and this just adds to its charm.
The romans used to create these watering places beside their roads and this well is a perfect example. It was rumoured that this well was associated with the Anglo-Saxon Saint Ninian, the fifth century apostle of the border.
Legend has it the saint baptised many early Christians in its holy water. In Medieval times, it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which is where it gets the name Lady's Well. The powerful spring that feeds the pool is the source of Holystone village's water supply.
A stone cross, placed in its centre during Victorian times, adds to its mystery.
In 1780 a 15th-century statue of St Paulinus was brought to Holystone from Alnwick Castle and erected in the centre of the pool. Then in the Victorian period, the statue was moved to dry ground at the west end of the pool and a stone cross in Celtic style was raised in the pool to replace it. The cross is inscribed with the words 'IN THIS PLACE PAVLINUS THE BISHOP BAPTIZED THREE THOUSAND NORTHVMBRIANS - EASTER DCXXVII'.
If you want to know more there is a fantastic write up on britainexpress.com.
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What three words
dabbing.interlude.inherits
Lat / Long
55.320114, -2.075962
Show Place On Google Maps
The well is through a couple of fields approx 400m walk. Look for the fingerposts or follow our map.
What three words
brittle.tonality.barbarian
Lat / Long
55.318497, -2.073118
No dedicated parking, but you can find spaces on the side of the road in the quiet group of houses nearby.
Contributed by Simon Hawkins
Thanks for checking out this place on the Fabulous North! I do enjoy a wander out in to the countryside trying to find hidden gems that not many people know about. You can't beat a rogue Pele tower up a remote hill or a mysterious stone circle or a stunning waterfall secluded in a forest.
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