Alsia Well,
Cornwall
 
 
Alsia spring and guardian hawthorn
Alsia spring
 
This is one of my most favourite holy wells in the entire country. Its seclusion and lack of sign posting has led to it being one of Cornwall's best kept secrets. The beautiful spring is nestled into the slope of a hill in the corner of a pasture, and rises into a stone lined chamber before running along a shallow gravely bed. Although protected from farm animals by iron railings, it remains unencumbered by any form of building. Instead its beauty is reverently accentuated by lush vegetation including mosses, ferns, pennywort and overhanging hawthorn trees.
 
William Bottrell relates that in the nineteenth century this well was extremely popular on the first three wednesdays in May when pilgrims would come from near and far for the curative properties of the water. Mothers would bathe their weak and rickety children in the waters, much to the chagrin of locals who drew drinking water from the well.
 
The well was also famed for its powers of divination. Young women would frequent the well in the hope of foretelling the future of their romances. This was achieved by dropping pebbles or pins into the waters and waiting to see whether the items sank near or apart. The number of bubbles rising being an indication of the number of years that would pass before the happy or sad event occurred. Another method of consulting with the resident naiad was to float bramble leaves upon the surface of the water.
 
Cheryl Straffon suggests that this holy well is dedicated to Saint Buryana. A sensible suggestion as the well lies on the church path to St. Buryan away to the west. There are also references to the existence of a nearby cross, now sadly lost.
 
This well is best visited early afternoon on a sunny spring day when the sun will bring the well to life. It is difficult to imagine a place more numinous than this. Clearly i am not the only person to think this about Alsia well as it is lovingly, cared for by unknown hands and, on my last visit at least, was being used as a rag well.
 
 
O.S.G.R.: 
 SW 394 251 (203).
Location: 
 Alsia hamlet; 1 mile SW of St Buryan, 3 miles E of Lands End.
Directions: 
 From B3283 S of St. Buryan, follow lane to Alsia. After about ½ mile, Alsia farm is on left of road. Park just beyond farm, hop over stile & follow public footpath around field to the well in SW facing bank.
 

 
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These pages are maintained occasionally by Richard L. Pederick.
Last updated 12/3/99.
All material in these pages is copyright to Richard L. Pederick unless otherwise stated.
Copyright 1989-99 CE.