What is recorded here

Lady Well is a small circular stone chamber set into the sea cliff beside St Mary’s church, named on the 1920 map and used in early nineteenth-century pattern rounds. De Paor’s 1970 excavation found mostly modern offerings and no medieval chamber, suggesting the well’s greatness lived in repeated local belief rather than ancient stone. It still holds a little green water, close enough to the shore that rain, memory and prayer may have pooled there together.

Set into the base of the steep SE-facing slope down to the shore, 30m E of St Mary’s church (CL029-009008-) and just a few metres from the water’s edge. Named ‘Lady Well’ on the 1920 OS 6-inch map. A circular walled structure (int. diam. 1.7m; wall Wth 0.7m; max. H on downslope 1.2m) with a lintelled opening (H 0.9m; Wth 0.3m) at SE. The water (D 0.05m) is covered in algae. Excavations by de Paor in 1970 (de Paor 2013, 29-30) on the approach side revealed objects, almost all dated to the 20th century with a few stretching back into the late 19th century. The well itself was pumped dry and excavated revealing small objects corresponding to those found outside. There was no evidence of medieval usage and the well construction was modern. The well featured in the pattern rounds of the early 19th century (de Paor 2013, 29). Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of upload: 29 September 2015

Linked to St Mary, the well is traditionally associated with healing and fertility, with pilgrims visiting to seek her intercession for safe childbirth and general well-being. The site’s proximity to St Mary’s church suggests a long-standing devotional connection, with the well likely serving as a place of pilgrimage and ritual washing.

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.