Ian Taylor
@wellhopper.bsky.social
Exploring the holy wells and healing wells of North Wales - Fforio'r ffynhonnau sanctaidd a ffynhonnau iachaol Gogledd Cymru
Folklore & history / llên gwerin & hanes
More at www.wellhopper.wales
Folklore & history / llên gwerin & hanes
More at www.wellhopper.wales
A little medieval character I found lurking in St Mary's church Nercwys yesterday
November 1, 2025 at 5:47 PM
A little medieval character I found lurking in St Mary's church Nercwys yesterday
Visiting the fascinating colourful Hundertwasser Haus in Vienna this afternoon
October 24, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Visiting the fascinating colourful Hundertwasser Haus in Vienna this afternoon
At the Silver Well, a petrifying well, in West Cheshire this morning
August 24, 2025 at 2:24 PM
At the Silver Well, a petrifying well, in West Cheshire this morning
Gorgeous morning walking along the River Weaver in West Cheshire this morning in search of the Silver Well, a petrifying well near Kingsley.
August 24, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Gorgeous morning walking along the River Weaver in West Cheshire this morning in search of the Silver Well, a petrifying well near Kingsley.
Ffynnon Gorad
This well lies on the Anglesey Coastal Path to the north of Valley. Local belief is that it was once associated with a local small monastic settlement connected to the monastery at Holyhead. More recently it was been used as a local water supply.
This well lies on the Anglesey Coastal Path to the north of Valley. Local belief is that it was once associated with a local small monastic settlement connected to the monastery at Holyhead. More recently it was been used as a local water supply.
July 3, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Ffynnon Gorad
This well lies on the Anglesey Coastal Path to the north of Valley. Local belief is that it was once associated with a local small monastic settlement connected to the monastery at Holyhead. More recently it was been used as a local water supply.
This well lies on the Anglesey Coastal Path to the north of Valley. Local belief is that it was once associated with a local small monastic settlement connected to the monastery at Holyhead. More recently it was been used as a local water supply.
Ffynnon Sadwrn / Ddu (both have been used) is close to St Mary's Church Llanfair PG Anglesey. Once a copious spring feeding a duck pond, it was destroyed in the 1840s during the building of the new railway. now only a small stone chamber covered by a grill remains, though water still flows.
June 18, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Ffynnon Sadwrn / Ddu (both have been used) is close to St Mary's Church Llanfair PG Anglesey. Once a copious spring feeding a duck pond, it was destroyed in the 1840s during the building of the new railway. now only a small stone chamber covered by a grill remains, though water still flows.
At the beautiful St Peulan's church Llanbeulan this afternoon with @friendlesschurches.bsky.social and @angleseyhistory.bsky.social
June 14, 2025 at 2:59 PM
At the beautiful St Peulan's church Llanbeulan this afternoon with @friendlesschurches.bsky.social and @angleseyhistory.bsky.social
Ffynnon Ddoged, St Doged's well at Llanddoged, Conwy. Subject of a late 15th century ode claiming the well had healing powers but now covered by stone and locked tight shut
May 1, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Ffynnon Ddoged, St Doged's well at Llanddoged, Conwy. Subject of a late 15th century ode claiming the well had healing powers but now covered by stone and locked tight shut
Visiting St Faglan's church Llanfaglan Caernarfon. One of the gems and my favourite of the Friends of Friendless Churches holdings. #FoFC
March 28, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Visiting St Faglan's church Llanfaglan Caernarfon. One of the gems and my favourite of the Friends of Friendless Churches holdings. #FoFC
Walking round Llanbeblig church Caernarfon this morning. Seeing the sorry overgrown state of the churchyard
March 28, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Walking round Llanbeblig church Caernarfon this morning. Seeing the sorry overgrown state of the churchyard
At Ffynnon y Wrach - the witch's well - this morning for an Open Doors event. Looking forward to discussing the history of the well
March 21, 2025 at 10:33 AM
At Ffynnon y Wrach - the witch's well - this morning for an Open Doors event. Looking forward to discussing the history of the well
St Patrick's cave and well, Ffynnon ac Ogof Badrig.
Llanbadrig, Ynys Mon.
Llanbadrig, Ynys Mon.
March 17, 2025 at 9:00 AM
St Patrick's cave and well, Ffynnon ac Ogof Badrig.
Llanbadrig, Ynys Mon.
Llanbadrig, Ynys Mon.
St Helen's Well, Ffynnon Elen, Caernarfon. Supposedly named for Elen Luyddog, wife of Magnus Maximus. Naturalist John Ray visited Caernarfon in 1662 & recorded seeing Elen's chapel and well. It's possible the original well was closed in the mid C19 and the name was transferred to this nearby well.
March 16, 2025 at 12:18 PM
St Helen's Well, Ffynnon Elen, Caernarfon. Supposedly named for Elen Luyddog, wife of Magnus Maximus. Naturalist John Ray visited Caernarfon in 1662 & recorded seeing Elen's chapel and well. It's possible the original well was closed in the mid C19 and the name was transferred to this nearby well.
Naturalist John Ray's somewhat sceptical view of St. Winefride's well at Holywell, from his visit in 1658.
"The poor and the lame visit the well more to beg and receive alms than to benefit from the use of its waters."
"The poor and the lame visit the well more to beg and receive alms than to benefit from the use of its waters."
March 10, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Naturalist John Ray's somewhat sceptical view of St. Winefride's well at Holywell, from his visit in 1658.
"The poor and the lame visit the well more to beg and receive alms than to benefit from the use of its waters."
"The poor and the lame visit the well more to beg and receive alms than to benefit from the use of its waters."
Back to Ffynnon y Wrach, Holyhead on March 21st. Open Doors event.
March 3, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Back to Ffynnon y Wrach, Holyhead on March 21st. Open Doors event.
Handout from St Tudwen's church Llandudwen Gwynedd ca 2012 following the restoration of the holy well. These days it is overgrown and hard to find. Restorations need to be a continuous process.
February 13, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Handout from St Tudwen's church Llandudwen Gwynedd ca 2012 following the restoration of the holy well. These days it is overgrown and hard to find. Restorations need to be a continuous process.
Just framed my favourite souvenir from Istanbul visit - picture detail taken from larger Rorbye painting Turkish Notary Drawing up a Marriage Contract
January 24, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Just framed my favourite souvenir from Istanbul visit - picture detail taken from larger Rorbye painting Turkish Notary Drawing up a Marriage Contract
St Tudwen's Well, Llandudwen, Gwynedd.
seen here in better days - I think it has become much more overgrown and inaccessible recently.
seen here in better days - I think it has become much more overgrown and inaccessible recently.
January 24, 2025 at 1:41 PM
St Tudwen's Well, Llandudwen, Gwynedd.
seen here in better days - I think it has become much more overgrown and inaccessible recently.
seen here in better days - I think it has become much more overgrown and inaccessible recently.
Ffynnon Estyn, Ynys Mon gained a reputation as a cursing well in the late eighteenth century.
Pennies that had been used to close the eyes of a corpse were thrown into the well as offerings to enact a curse.
Local people refused to drink water from the well as a consequence of its reputation.
Pennies that had been used to close the eyes of a corpse were thrown into the well as offerings to enact a curse.
Local people refused to drink water from the well as a consequence of its reputation.
December 11, 2024 at 9:24 PM
Ffynnon Estyn, Ynys Mon gained a reputation as a cursing well in the late eighteenth century.
Pennies that had been used to close the eyes of a corpse were thrown into the well as offerings to enact a curse.
Local people refused to drink water from the well as a consequence of its reputation.
Pennies that had been used to close the eyes of a corpse were thrown into the well as offerings to enact a curse.
Local people refused to drink water from the well as a consequence of its reputation.
Thrilled to have won the chance to give this Mari a new home.
Thanks to @skullsandsheets.bsky.social and another successful Mari Lwyd auction supporting domestic violence charities.
Diolch yn fawr
Thanks to @skullsandsheets.bsky.social and another successful Mari Lwyd auction supporting domestic violence charities.
Diolch yn fawr
December 8, 2024 at 3:21 PM
Thrilled to have won the chance to give this Mari a new home.
Thanks to @skullsandsheets.bsky.social and another successful Mari Lwyd auction supporting domestic violence charities.
Diolch yn fawr
Thanks to @skullsandsheets.bsky.social and another successful Mari Lwyd auction supporting domestic violence charities.
Diolch yn fawr
The evils that a comet can be held responsible for....
Edward Lhuyd in his Parochialia quoting from Gabriel Hughes - vicar of Gwyddelwern, 1652
Edward Lhuyd in his Parochialia quoting from Gabriel Hughes - vicar of Gwyddelwern, 1652
December 6, 2024 at 2:52 PM
The evils that a comet can be held responsible for....
Edward Lhuyd in his Parochialia quoting from Gabriel Hughes - vicar of Gwyddelwern, 1652
Edward Lhuyd in his Parochialia quoting from Gabriel Hughes - vicar of Gwyddelwern, 1652
This Wednesday, in Holyhead, should be an interesting talk on the recording local place names project by Rhian Parry, author of the excellent Cerdded y Caeau place name study.
December 3, 2024 at 9:09 PM
This Wednesday, in Holyhead, should be an interesting talk on the recording local place names project by Rhian Parry, author of the excellent Cerdded y Caeau place name study.
At ffynnon Issui, Patrishow, Powys
"..to which was formerly attributed great Virtue."
"..to which was formerly attributed great Virtue."
November 30, 2024 at 10:19 PM
At ffynnon Issui, Patrishow, Powys
"..to which was formerly attributed great Virtue."
"..to which was formerly attributed great Virtue."
Ffynnon Fair, St Mary's Well, near St Asaph.
A sketch made by poet Felicia Hemans, most probably during the 1820s.
A sketch made by poet Felicia Hemans, most probably during the 1820s.
November 29, 2024 at 3:42 PM
Ffynnon Fair, St Mary's Well, near St Asaph.
A sketch made by poet Felicia Hemans, most probably during the 1820s.
A sketch made by poet Felicia Hemans, most probably during the 1820s.
Ffynnon Angoeron at Goetre Fawr, near Pontypool. Also known as the freezing or very cold well.
Known as a wishing well in the late nineteenth century and when cleaned in 1890 bent pins, coins and buttons were found.
Picture: Cardiff Naturalists' Society Transactions, 1903.
Known as a wishing well in the late nineteenth century and when cleaned in 1890 bent pins, coins and buttons were found.
Picture: Cardiff Naturalists' Society Transactions, 1903.
November 26, 2024 at 2:32 PM
Ffynnon Angoeron at Goetre Fawr, near Pontypool. Also known as the freezing or very cold well.
Known as a wishing well in the late nineteenth century and when cleaned in 1890 bent pins, coins and buttons were found.
Picture: Cardiff Naturalists' Society Transactions, 1903.
Known as a wishing well in the late nineteenth century and when cleaned in 1890 bent pins, coins and buttons were found.
Picture: Cardiff Naturalists' Society Transactions, 1903.