All Saints and St Catherine’s Wells, Gresford

“Pistyll Rhaeadr and Wrexham steeple
Snowdon’s mountain without its people,
Overton Yew trees, St Winefred’s Well,
Llangollen Bridge and Gresford bells

Although Gresford’s bells may remain one of the seven wonders of Wales, its wells are a little mystery. Lhuyd’s survey of 1698 identified one holy well at Gresford, dedicated to All Saints, the same dedication as the church, however no details as to its location or traditions realting to it were recorded at that time.

Current OS maps identify a site on Springfield Road as All Saints Well. This lies down the hill and across the railway from the church. However, in mapping terms, this is a recent amendment. On late nineteenth century and most twentieth century maps the well at this point is noted, but not named.

The connection between this particular well and the historical All Saints Well may be due to the report of the Royal Commission on Ancient Monuments in Wales who noted following their inspectors visit in April 1911

Below the church and the railway station is an ample spring which without doubt is the ‘Ffynnon Holh Seint’ or All Saints Well mentioned by Edward Lhuyd in 1698. The water still supplies the village, being now forced to the top of the hill by mechanical power; the way to the well was by a covered stone passage, of probably niot earlier date than the 18th century, and fifteen stone steps which are evidently much older.

However, the evidence on which they made this judgement of it being “without doubt” All Saints Well is unclear. It appears that at least during the late nineteenth century this well may then have been known as St Catherine’s Well. History records that

“…up until this time the main water supply came from St Catherine’s Well on Springfield Lane and was taken to the village using water carts or barrels and donkeys” [2]

and in the late nineteenth century the pumping system, that the Royal Commission noted was installed

In 1860 Miss Anne Townshend of the wealthy Trevalyn family discussed the (village water problem) matter with Miss Egerton, with the vicar and with Mr Price at the mill. They decided that an automatic hydraulic ram was the thing. It would be built just behind St Catherine’s Well, be engineered by Mr Price and have attached to it a pipe leading up to four handy places in the village. [3]

It is quite possible that at this time the old All Saints Well had merely been renamed St Catherine’s Well. There is a St Catherine’s Chapel within the All Saints Church and the well may have been renamed at some period in her honour.

Alternatively, maybe the Royal Commission and subsequent mappers were wrong, and this is not the All Saints Well identified by Lhuyd.

This well lies a couple of hundred yards to the north of the church, on a little wooded buffer between the railway and the A483 dual carriageway, surrounded by the upended roots of fallen trees. It is accessed from Springfield Lane, the name maybe recording the one time importance of the well. But even though the entrance to the well is almost on the roadside it is very easy to miss unless you are actually looking for it.

Any aspects of its role in religious or medicinal uses seem to have been lost, although  in its time, judging by the construction, it must have been viewed with importance to the community.  This was probably due to its use as a water supply though, to provide access for the water carriers rather than pilgrims. It does not merit a reference in any of the Victorian gazetteers, so it must be presumed that by that time any greater significance that it may have once had was lost.There is one reference from the early nineteenth century recording that pins had been offered at a well in Gresford, one can only assume it was at this well, and even then the custom was recorded as being in the past.[4]

The well basin lies about five feet below the current ground level. It is reached by around fifteen stone steps which lead down into a narrow stone lined corridor which curves slightly round for about five yards between the foot of the steps and the well.

The church at Gresford dates from the 15th century when the existing parish church was demolished and replaced with the magnificent building which stands there now. At the time the church was massively out of scale with the small village in which it stood, and there is some debate as to how exactly the funds were raised for a building of such size, and the necessity for such a church. Whether it was financed as a special location on a pilgrimage route – it is suggested that at one time it may have contained an important image or relics; or whether financed by a rich benefactor, such as Thomas Stanley who endowed other churches at Wrexham and Mold is discussed on the church website.

Another Gresford well

More recently another curious Gresford well has been brought to my attention. To find this one you follow the footpath that begins opposite the junction between Springfield Road and Gresford Road, running parallel to and between the railway and the A483. The path turns and goes through an archway under the railway and just there, on the right hand side beneath a tree is this well.

In the past it is been suggested that it may be the remains of St Leonard’s Well after the old chapel dedicated to the saint. Another suggestion is that it is the remains of the Parsonage Well, so named since it is close to the site of the old Parsonage. Underneath the mud it seems to be completely lined in stone within, and there is an inscription on the top – possibly reading A:E::M:N (or X or K) and also a date – possibly 1818?  Any other suggestions as to its origin would be welcomed.

The inside is lined with stone on three sides, it was filled up with silt so it wasn’t possible to determine the depth of it or whether it had a stone base too.

[1] AN Palmer (1905) History of the Old Parish of Gresford. Archaeologia Cambrensis
[2] Wrexham BC (2009) Gresford Conservation Area and Management Plan
[3] Colin Jones (1995) History of Gresford Village and Church and Royal Marford. Privately published.
[4] Rev Peter Roberts (1815) The Cambrian Popular Antiquities of Wales