Hilda Spring - Hackness
(SE 9714 9074)

Although this spring does not appear to have the 'official' designation of a holy well, its name and location suggests it may at one time have been dedicated to St Hilda. She was the 7th century abbess of Whitby abbey, who in later life retired to the monastery at Hackness and died there around 685AD.
The spring is located just to the east of Hackness and situated at the foot of a wooded hillside where its strong flow collects in a large pool, shaded by trees. The water flows out of the banking in several places and trickles down through the moss, roots and other vegetation, which over time, the minerals in the water have built up and petrified the material to form a moss covered layer on the bankside, behind which the water can be heard trickling and running.
From the nature and setting of this strong natural spring it is easy to see how it could have been venerated in the past and the mineral content of the water could have been considered beneficial.