By Janet Bord
Review by Hawthorn
This is an excellent book,
consisting of seventy-five short essays (in alphabetical order) discussing
different aspects of holy wells, from Ampullae to Witches, looking at topics
such as Dragons, Healing, and Rituals along the way. It is satisfyingly well
researched and easy to use – many of the essays are cross-referenced, full
details are provided of sources and there is a good index. It is well
illustrated, too, with photos and drawings on most pages.
The essays explore both historical
and current day responses to wells, considering how they have changed.
Clouties, or rags, are, for example, are now more frequently left at wells as
compared to twenty years ago. Nowadays, people are less likely to leave pieces
of fabric ripped from their clothing, but do still tend to leave clothes or
coins or (increasingly, it seems) other items. Our purpose in leaving these
items has shifted as well- the author suggesting that whereas in the past it
arose from a desire to seek a cure for an ailment, it has changed into the
making of an offering to the spirit of the place. We may no longer hope that
holy wells will cure our problems, but do wish to respond to the atmosphere and
energy of the wells with honour and respect.
The author does not just cite
beliefs about wells uncritically, being unafraid to say when there is no
evidence for stories about a particular well. She argues, for example, that
there is no real evidence that holy wells pre-dated the Romans coming to Britain.
A wealth of material has been
gathered here, and it has been well digested before being compiled into this
book. It is a very useful reference book for those of us who are interested in
the water element in general and in wells in particular. I found it both
inspirational and interesting. The author well conveys her enthusiasm and love
for wells. The book’s format means that
it can be just dipped into and read in small self-contained chunks.
The final section of the book
lists twenty-five holy wells that the author recommends visiting in England and Wales – here each is accompanied by a photo. The addition
of a map would have been an added bonus. I have felt stimulated to visit some of those
which are closer to me very soon. The author adds that she is currently
compiling a much more comprehensive guidebook to surviving holy wells in the British Isles – I’ll look forward to that.
Available from Amazon.co.uk
or direct from the publisher.
