Monument record MDO44961 - Holy well site, Holwell, Cranborne

Near the Ro. building site [DORSET 16 NE 3] is a pond in which rises a spring of the purest water. It is suggested that this is a forgotten Holy Well, from which Holwell gets its name. <1>

[SU 07251264] On the edge of a watercress bed (in which springs can clearly be seen) is a stone inscribed as follows:- "This stone was placed here in 1929 to mark the site of the ancient Holy Well within a few feet of this spot." No trace of masonry was found during investigation. In Cranborne there is a tradition that if a locally born child should fall into the River Crane it will come to no harm. <2>

<1> Royal Archaeological Institute, 1887, Archaeological Journal XLIV, 395-6 (Serial). SDO15380.

<2> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 26-MAY-54 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<3> National Record of the Historic Environment, 213680 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jul 3 2023 3:49PM