St Hilda's Well - Hinderwell
(NZ 7911 1706)

This holy well is located in the churchyard of St Hilda's Church in the village of Hinderwell. The spring water collects in a covered chamber behind the well and then flows into a small trough between the pillars at the front.

St Hilda was the Abbess of an early Christian abbey, made of  wood and thatched and located at Whitby in the 7th century. She is said to have a had a retreat in this area, perhaps near this spring, which may have led to the church being built alongside. The fact that the village name derives from the well and the church is also dedicated to her, suggests she had a strong connection with this place.
Hope(1) notes that the monks would stop off at St Hilda's Well on their journey between the religious houses at Kirkham and Whitby. This would seem a rather circuitous route to get to Whitby and perhaps suggests the well became a pilgrimage site.
St Hilda eventually retired, to live out her days in the monastery at Hackness where there is also a Hilda spring.

(1) R.C. Hope, The Legendary Lore of the Holy Wells of England, 1893