St. Davids Well (Site of)

Situated on a level, low-lying landscape with the E-W Bridgetown river c. 130m to the N. It is marked only on the 1940 ed. of the OS 6-inch map where it is described in gothic lettering as the site of St. David’s Well. It is not visible at ground level in rough pasture. The well is known locally, but while it was regarded as a holy well in 1940 (OSFM) although it had been closed up even then, it is not regarded as a holy well now. St. David was a 6th-century bishop of Menevia in south Wales and is renowned for his preaching against the Pelagian heresy. He presided over Church councils at Brefi and Caerleon and is the patron saint of Wales (Butler 1883, 41). While his feast day is on 1 March, the date of a pattern, if any was ever held at this site, is not known. The site of Bridgetown castle (WX047-026----) is c. 25m to the NW. Archaeological testing (06E0014) in the vicinity failed to produce any related material (McLoughlin 2009). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 14 October, 2013

St. David’s Well is associated with St. David, the patron saint of Wales, traditionally venerated for his miracles and holy springs believed to have healing properties. While specific local cures or traditions at this particular site are not recorded, such wells were commonly visited for physical and spiritual healing in medieval Christian practice.