Summary

Stone well, 1935.

Description

Well, 1935.

MATERIALS: sandstone and sandstone ashlar.

DESCRIPTION: the well is situated immediately to the west of Branxton Village, within a road verge. The well head comprises an upright stone slab about 1.2m high with a large round-arched opening; the upper slab is inscribed with the outline of a Latin cross and Celtic interlace design above the arch. The face of the upright slab is inscribed with a quotation from Sir Walter Scott's poem 'Marmion' (Canto 6, stanza XXX):

'Drink weary pilgrim drink and pray/For the kind soul of Sybil Grey/Who built this cross and well.'

Set within the arch is a round stone basin and set at the base is a rectangular stone basin.

History

A well at this location in Branxton is believed to have existed since at least the C19. It was described in 1911 as being a simple trough below a spring. In 1912 plans emerged to build a fountain at the site with the intention of commemorating, at a more convenient location, an earlier well on Flodden Hill erected by the Marchioness of Waterford that was romantically associated with Sir Walter Scot's poem 'Marmion'. An appeal was launched to raise £100 but the plan did not materialise. The present well-head dates from about 1935 and was constructed by Colonel Gerard Leather and built by Pattersons of Branxton.

The quotation inscribed on the face of the well head is from Sir Walter Scott's poem 'Marmion' in which the fictional knight, mortally wounded at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, is brought refreshment from a local spring.

Reasons for Listing

Marmion's Well is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest
* An attractive and well-executed stone well incorporating a Latin cross and Celtic interlace decoration.

Historic interest
* A C19 or earlier spring head which became romantically associated with Sir Walter Scott's poem 'Marmion' and the Battle of Flodden.

Group value:
* With the Battle of Flodden registered battlefield, in which it is situated, and the Grade II-listed Church of St Paul.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26652162

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)