Devon - Fices' Well

Fices' Well, Devon

Dartmoor is very well known for its megalithic structures. One can hardly walk anywhere on the moor without stumbling over another stone circle or stone row. Dartmoor isn't known for its holy wells (although there are a few). It was nice then to find this little gem of a well. A simple well house made from roughly dressed granite boulders lies sunken into the ground, with a few stone steps leading down to a clear spring. The letters "I.F." and the date 1568 have been carved into the capstone above the opening to the building, and the whole structure has been encircled by a dry stone wall (presumably to protect it from the grazing cattle and vice versa). The setting is magnificent, right in the centre of the moor, with beautiful views all around. The well house was built out of gratitude by one Sir John Fitz of Fitzford. Legend tells us that Sir John and his wife were lost on the moor until they drank from the spring and rediscovered their way. This legend draws on local folklore, which asserts that they were under the influence of pixie magic, magic which can only be broken by drinking from certain springs. The same story has also become associated with Fitz's Well at Okehampton, implying that either the same family were involved in embellishing the two wells, or that the Dartmoor pixies are very mischievous. The water is renowned for being able to cure eye complaints. One man held the water in such high esteem that he would make an annual pilgrimage of considerable distance to the well and carry away as much of the water as he could manage. In 1906 a bronze rapier, eighteen inches in length was found near to it by an inmate of the nearby prison. At one end are the remains of the rivet holes which would have enabled it to be attached to a wooden hilt. It is remarkably well preserved. Comparison with Bronze Age finds from other areas of the moor would imply a date of 1200 to 900 BCE. It is likely to have been accidentally dropped, or it broke and was discarded, during the clearing of the forest which once covered the moor. There is no evidence to suggest it was a votive offering to the well. There are no traces of settlements in the immediate vicinity of the well. The nearest remains being the hut circles south of Great Mis Tor, a mile or so to the W. Even today, its nearest neighbours are in the prison. It is likely then that this well would have had some considerable significance in times past. Otherwise why would somebody go to the trouble of building a structure around a water source so far from any habitation? This well is a joy to visit. Its air of mystery is a major part of its attraction to me. The wonderful views N, leading off onto the moor are very inviting, but sitting by the well, admiring the view and pondering the mysteries of life is a much finer way to spend the day. Civilisation is far enough away to be able to forget about this life and lose oneself in the history of the moor. Who held that rapier? Who came to build this well house? And Why?

O.S.G.R.:	SX 578 759 (191).
Location:	1¾ miles NW of Princetown, 6 miles E of Tavistock.
Directions:	Follow the west-bound B3357 from Tavistock. Just past the turning for Princetown is a wide gateway with a public footpath sign. Park here (but please don't block the access) and follow the footpath N across three fields. The well is surrounded by a wall in the third field.

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