The spring became the Well of St Sidwell, and was a place of pilgrimage in Anglo-Saxon and Norman times

Sidwell's father died, leaving her in the hands of a cruel stepmother. Jealous of her beauty, virtue, and generous inheritance, the stepmother had two corn reapers behead Sidwell with a scythe. Where her head came to rest, water sprang up.

Named after Saint Sidwell, patroness saint of Exeter. According to legend, Sidwell was the daughter of a wealthy landowner, and brought food to the villagers working outside the city walls.