Description

RINGMORE

1307/0/10010 ST MARY'S WELL
30-APR-08

II

RINGMORE

1307/0/10008 St Mary's Well
24-AUG-07

II

Holy Well, 1860's, by Rev F.C. Hingeston-Randolph on site of earlier well.

MATERIALS: Random rubble with ornamental fragment and dressed granite coping.

PLAN: 1.6m wide rectangular building with low door facing west.

EXTERIOR: Well house built directly onto the bedrock and inserted into a substantial west facing scarp denoting one side of a roadway. The well house survives as a small 1.7m high rectangular rubble built structure with pitch roof formed by stone corbelling topped by a substantial triangular shaped granite slab. Carved onto the west facing edge of this slab is a Maltese Cross within a circular panel. The door faces west and incorporates the upper parts of a reused weathered, decorative window fragment above a horizontal lintel.

INTERIOR: The well basin survives as a rock cut cavity in which water from the spring collects.

HISTORY: In common with many wells the early history of St Mary's Well at Marwell is based on speculation, and its antiquity is to some extent derived from the name of the adjacent farm. No specific traditions relating to the well have been documented, but it is known that the surviving well house dates to the latter part of the C19 and was erected by the antiquarian Rev F.C. Hingeston-Randolph to a design based on the well house at St Minver in Cornwall. The ornamental stonework above the doorway was salvaged from nearby Ringmore Church during its restoration by the Rev Hingeston-Randolf in the 1860's. The form of the original structure and whether the well had pre-Christian significance or was first established for domestic purposes only is not known, but the rock cut basin is likely to be original.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION
St Mary's Well, Ringmore is designated at Grade II, for the following principal reasons:
* The original well basin is very likely to survive.
* Place name evidence strongly supports the holy well identification.
* The well house is of interesting design and construction, fully communicating its function and place in history.
* Documented association with an influential C19 church historian and architect.
* The link with the Grade II holy well at St Minver, Cornwall.

SOURCES: Devon Historic Environment Record, Monument 489, printed 21.05.2007.
http://www.manfamily.org/Kirkness_Family.htm, accessed 22.05.2007
http://www.devon.gov.uk/etched?url=etched/ixbin/hixclient.exe&_IXP_=1&_IXR=110617, accessed 22.05.2007

NGR:- SX6545847177

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26671452

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.

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