In this page we catalogue the mentions of wells in fiction and poetry as well as specific poems written about particular wells. We acknowledge that there is a vast quantity of medieval literature written in praise of particular saints which sometimes mentions wells, this is at present beyond the scope of this page.
Poetry
The romantic locations and historic significance of the wells of North Wales haven’t escaped writers over the years, and have attracted a number of poets .
Ffynnon Cybi and Ffynnon Seiriol, Clorach, Anglesey
Seiriol Wyn a Chybi Felyn by Sir John Morris Jones (1864 – 1929)
East and West by Matthew Arnold (1822-1888)
Ffynnon Elian, Llanelian yn Rhos, Conwy
St Elian’s or the Cursing Well by Charlotte Wardle (1797-1828)
Ffynnon Fair – Wigfair, Denbighsire
Our Lady’s Well by Felicia Hemans (1793-1835)
Bridal by Suzanne Iuppa (see below)
Ffynnon Wenfaen, Rhoscolyn, Anglesey
The Sacred Well of Gwenfaen, Rhoscolyn by Lewis Morris (1701-1765)
Clear by Suzanne Iuppa (see below)
We note the sequence of poems inspired by Welsh wells “Well Spring” by Suzanne Iuppa (2015) published by Gwendraeth Press, Camarthen. info@thegwendraethpress.com which includes pieces for St Dwynwens Well, Anglesey Ffynnon Wenfaen, Anglesey, Ffynnon Gybi, Gwynedd, St Winefrides Well, Flints, Ffynnon Fair , Denbighs, Ffynnon Bedr, Conwy, Nine Wells Pembroke, Ffynnon Enddwyn, Gwynedd, Ffynnon Gelynin, Conwy, and Ffynnon Antwn Sant, Camarthen
Fiction
Ffynnon Bedr at Llanbedrycennin,
which features in one of the poems above, also makes an appearance in in the historical romance “Nectar From A Stone” by Jane Guill. Simon and Schuster (2005)
Ffynnon y Brenin at Garn Fadyrn
on the Llyn Peninsula appears, renamed as Ffynnon Madryn, in the acclaimed The Fish Ladder – A Journey Upstream by Katharine Norbury, Bloomsbury 2015.
Ffynnon Fair – Wigfair, Denbighsire
Ffynnon Fair also appears in a novel by Owen Rhoscomyl (the pen name of Arthur Owen Vaughan) who published For the White Rose of Arno in 1890 set in the Jacobite Uprising of 1745 and featuring a secret wedding at Ffynnon Fair chapel
Well Hopper 