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Holy Wells and Healing Springs: Further Reading, Welsh Sites and Lost Victorian Spas

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Further reading on holy wells and healing springs

Pixyled Publications produce a series of gazetteers on wells and springs, along with an excellent bibliography covering the subject:

Below are links to some of their ongoing international research, followed by notes on Welsh wells and a historical list of UK wells and spa waters.

International and regional research links

By country and wider region

Channel Islands

Wales (general and counties)

English counties and regions

Irish counties

Other specific areas

Thematic and topic-based categories

Closer to home: selected Welsh wells and springs (present or likely present in 2016)

Wells confirmed or likely still present (2016)

  • Aberystwyth Chalybeate – Original well commemorated in Chalybeate Street/Terrace; building gone but the name preserves the site in the urban landscape.

  • Abersock (Abersoch), Ffynnon Fyw (Ffynnon Fyew) – “Living well” near Abersoch/Mynytho on the Llŷn Peninsula; modern well‑hopping sources and maps indicate it can still be located.

  • Amlwch, St Eleth’s – Associated with St Eleth’s Church; the historic well is likely still in the vicinity of the active church site.

  • Ffynnon Cegin Arthur (Kitchen of King Arthur), near Caernarfon – Chalybeate spring in the Llanddeiniolen area, recorded as still existing in recent Arthurian and well descriptions.

  • Llanwrtyd (Ffynnon Drewllyd / Stinking Well) – Famous sulphur spring at Llanwrtyd Wells, reopened in recent years (Dolycoed Spring) and still running as a notable, if lightly used, historical attraction.

  • Trefriw Well – Mineral spring with Victorian building, still in active use as a well site.

Sites with partial or uncertain modern survival

  • A number of other wells (e.g. Aberagon Chalybeate, Black Well at Aberhavesp, St Patrick’s at Cemaes, Egleysilan buried spring, Little Newcastle tidal “golden well”, Llanrhudd chalybeate and related sites such as Ruthin St Peter’s and Towyn St Cadvan) have no strong recent evidence of surviving as visible features, though some may persist as overgrown, piped, or ruined springs.

  • Historical and modern catalogues (for example WellHopper, Megalithic Portal and other holy well databases) record many Welsh holy wells and mineral springs, some now fragmentary but still traceable in the landscape or in place‑names.

Historical list of Welsh wells and springs with no recorded presence in 2026

The following list (mid‑Victorian in origin) includes wells and springs that were already described as “almost vanished” or “totally vanished” and have no recorded physical presence in 2026:

  • Aberagon, 16 miles from Aberystwyth – Chalybeate.

  • Aberhavesp, 4 miles from Newtown – Black Well, reputed for scrofulous diseases.

  • Abersock, Caernarvon – Ffynnon Fyew with two baths within a high stone wall and oak door (no separate surviving feature if distinct from the Abersoch well above).

  • Amloch, St Eleth’s – Well for rheumatism (no confirmed survival as a distinct feature).

  • Bettws Garmon, 5 miles from Caernarvon – Well used for all skin troubles.

  • Cayo, Carmarthen, 8 miles from Llandovey – Springs at Bryn Nant and Dolcothy (double sulphur spring) and Pump Saint, a chalybeate.

  • Cemaes, Borthwen – St Patrick’s well for eyes and indigestion.

  • Cilcen, Flint, 4 miles from Mold – Spring used for rheumatism.

  • Convil, Carmarthen, 7 miles from “Fossanafos Sana” – Iron spring.

  • Corwen, close to Rug – St Julien’s well for rheumatism.

  • Cwm Dau, Radnor – Sulphur spring.

  • Egleysilan, Glamorgan – Notable spring reported as buried.

  • Festiniog, Merioneth – St Michael’s spring for rheumatism, probably an ice‑cold slate‑country spring.

  • Fishguard – Mineral spring used for cramp.

  • Glascomb, 8 miles from Builth – Two strong sulphur springs for skin troubles.

  • Hope, Flint, on the River Alyn, 5 miles from Wrexham – Muriate of soda springs.

  • Little Newcastle, Pembroke – Tidal “golden well” linked to St George’s Channel, said to be good for eyes.

  • Llanaethaiarn, Caernarvon, 1 mile from the parish church – Old enclosed bath supplied by St Aelpaian’s spring.

  • Llangllgo, Anglesey – Sulphate of lime spring, with a chapel‑of‑the‑well.

  • Llanano, 12 miles from Knighton – “New Well”, sulphur spring.

  • Llanarthng, Carmarthen (Myddleton Hall grounds) – Commercialized chalybeate spring with hot and cold baths.

  • Llanbadam Fawr, Radnor, near Penybont – Spring complex used for skin troubles, analysed in The Lancet (1874) as containing protosulphate of iron, magnesia, soda, lime and sulphur.

  • Llanllower, Pembroke – Mountainside spring curing ague, already neglected by 1850.

  • Llanlleonpel, Brecknock – Sulphur spring on church property.

  • Llanrhidan, 11 miles from Swansea – Spring on a salt marsh, strong in iron and sulphur.

  • Llanrhudd, Denbigh, near Ruthin – Chalybeate spring.

  • Mallwyd, Cae Gwyn – Spring good for eye complaints.

  • Meifod, 14 miles from Oswestry and Teirtref – Spring with cupola used for divination; nearby Pistyll y Clawdd sulphur well had medicinal value and associated rites.

  • Penmon, 4 miles from Beaumaris – Sulphate of lime spring.

  • Pentrevolas, 14 miles from Denbigh – Chalybeate spring.

  • Rhayader, 4 miles from Cardiff – “Bright waterspout”, very cold, used for sprains and convalescence.

  • Ruthin, south end of White Friars field – St Peter’s chalybeate well, disused, associated with a tavern or hospice.

  • St Asaph – Lime‑water spring with canopy and carved pillars.

  • Swansea – Spa based on a tidal spring, likened to that at Aberavon.

  • Talyllyn, 8 miles from Dolgelly – Well for rheumatism.

  • Tefid, near Cardiff – Thermal spring with Roman masonry.

Many of these were minor, seasonal, or poorly protected features and, although they may persist as overgrown or piped sources, they have no clear modern record as active or accessible wells.

Historical list of UK wells and spa waters (late 1800s)

The following list summarises notable UK wells and spas recorded in late‑nineteenth‑century sources:

  • Aberagon – Chalybeate spring.

  • Aberhavesp (4 miles from Newtown) – Black Well for scrofulous diseases.

  • Abersock / Abersoch, Caernarvon – Ffynnon Fyew with two baths in a high‑walled, oak‑doored enclosure.

  • Aberystwyth – Chalybeate spring.

  • Amloch / Amlwch – St Eleth’s well for rheumatism.

  • Arncliffe (3 miles from Wigan) – Gas‑issuing well whose gas would burn while the water stayed cold.

  • Bettws Garmon (5 miles from Caernarvon) – Well used for all skin troubles.

  • Brosely (near Wenlock, 7 miles north of Bridgnorth) – Gas‑bubbling hot well reportedly able to cook meat; stopped up by an earthquake in 1752.

  • Bryn Nant – Strong sulphur spring paired with Dolcothy.

  • Cayo, Carmarthen (8 miles from Llandovey) – Well for rheumatism.

  • Cemaes, Borthwen – St Patrick’s well for eyes and indigestion.

  • Cilcen, Flint (4 miles from Mold) – Spring used for rheumatism.

  • Codsall Wood, Staffordshire – Very strong‑smelling spring.

  • Convil, Carmarthen (7 miles from “Fossanafos Sana”) – Iron spring.

  • Corwen, close to Rug – St Julien’s well for rheumatism.

  • Cwm Dau, Radnor – Sulphur spring.

  • Dorset, near Weymouth – Spring smelling of boiled eggs and discolouring silver.

  • Egleysilan, Glamorgan – Notable spring now buried.

  • Festiniog, Merioneth – St Michael’s spring for rheumatism.

  • Fishguard – Mineral spring used for cramp.

  • Ffynon (Ffynnon) Begin / Cegin Arthur (near Caernarvon, near Dinas Dinorwic) – Iron‑bearing “Kitchen of King Arthur” spa used for bone complaints.

  • Glascomb (8 miles from Builth) – Two strong sulphur springs for skin troubles.

  • Glastonbury – Celebrated spring credited with curing asthma.

  • Tilbury water – Hill‑top spring 2 miles from the Thames, praised for punch and tea.

  • Hope, Flint (River Alyn, 5 miles from Wrexham) – Muriate of soda springs.

  • Llangamarch Spa (15 miles from Llandovery) – Barium and calcium spring noted for goitre and glandular complaints, with hotel and assembly room.

  • Llangamarch / Llanwrtyd area – Ffynnon Drewllyd (“stinking well”), sulphurous spring used for severe skin disease.

  • Llanano (12 miles from Knighton) – “New Well”, sulphur spring.

  • Llanarthng, Carmarthen (Myddleton Hall grounds) – Commercial chalybeate spring with hot and cold baths.

  • Llanbadam Fawr, Radnor, near Penybont – Spring for skin troubles, chemically analysed in 1874.

  • Llanlleonpel, Brecknock – Sulphur spring on church land.

  • Llanllower, Pembroke – Mountainside ague‑curing spring (neglected by 1850).

  • Llanaethaiarn, Caernarvon (½ mile from parish church) – Enclosed bath supplied by St Aelpaian’s spring.

  • Llanrhidan (11 miles from Swansea) – Iron‑ and sulphur‑rich spring on a salt marsh.

  • Llanrhudd, Denbigh, near Ruthin – Chalybeate spring.

  • Llanwrtyd – Sulphurous Ffynnon Drewllyd, famously used by Rev Evans.

  • Little Newcastle, Pembroke – Tidal “golden well” good for eye complaints.

  • Mallwyd, Cae Gwyn – Spring good for eyes.

  • Meifod (14 miles from Oswestry and Teirtref) – Cupola‑covered divination well.

  • Moffat, Scotland – Mineral water renowned for treating internal ulcers and colic.

  • Penmon (4 miles from Beaumaris) – Sulphate of lime spring.

  • Pistyll y Clawdd (near Groftydd, close to Meifod) – Sulphur well in woodland with prescribed medicinal use.

  • Pentrevolas (14 miles from Denbigh) – Chalybeate spring.

  • Rhayader (4 miles from Cardiff) – “Bright waterspout” used for sprains and recovery.

  • Ruthin (White Friars field) – St Peter’s chalybeate well, a typical tavern or hospice well.

  • St Asaph – Lime‑water spring with canopy and carved pillars.

  • Swansea – Spa based on a tidal spring (similar to Aberavon).

  • Talyllyn (8 miles from Dolgelly) – Well for rheumatism.

  • Tefid (near Cardiff) – Thermal spring with Roman masonry.

  • Tilbury water (see above) – Hill‑top spring favoured for beverages.

  • Towyn (16 miles from Dolgelly) – Spring of St Cadvan with a bath‑house; nearby rival spring at Rhydyromen open to all.

  • Trefriew – Industrial‑origin spa whose mineral waters supplied an “Old Bath House” and later developments.

  • Witham, Essex – Ferruginous spring recommended for nerves, appetite, asthma and low spirits.

Changing well‑landscapes

Across Wales and the wider UK, the holy well and spa landscape has altered considerably since the Victorian period. Many sites have vanished or survive only as buried, overgrown or piped features, while others remain as active springs, commemorative place‑names, or restored heritage sites.