St Helen's well - South Cave
(SE 9169 3096)

Today this holy well is located in the grounds of Cave Castle Hotel. but the Rev. Smith relates that it used to be a road side well, supplying the whole village until the road was diverted and a fishpond built in front of the castle. The well is now a few metres from the edge of the lake and overflows into the reed beds.

In the Rev. Smith's day the well was covered by a slab to prevent cattle falling in. Today there are no cattle and the hotel owners are to be congratulated on the way they have kept the holy well. A small area around the well has been graveled and the well pool is surrounded by a circle of rough stonework. Although it was not possible to judge the depth of water, its level was above that of the nearby lake and there was a steady overflow from well into its run off channel.

(On a visit to the well in May 2000, a wire mesh had been placed over the water to catch leaves etc, but the water was a little fouled by leaves and twigs that had got past the mesh - hopefully the water will clear after a good clean out).