Holy Wells, Mystical Wells

Also, most Celtic communities had at least one sacred well or body of water. The Pagan lore of the water was replaced by a Christian version, often thinly disguised.

For example, in one story Nechtan is an Irish god, the husband of the river goddess Boann. In the sixth century, he became St. Nectan, a Welsh saint with a Pictish name.

His sacred well is near Tintagel in Cornwall, the most likely birthplace of King Arthur. After his death, his name became synonymous with "water spirit," and a water nymph has been reported at St. Nectan's waterfall and pool.

There are many other saints associated with gods or goddesses, and also with holy wells. One of the most remarkable is St. Winefride, also known as Winifred or--in Welsh--Gwenfrewi.

Her tale begins in the sixth century at Treffynnon, called Holywell, on the River Dee in Wales.

According to legend, Winefride was left alone at her parents' home on a Midsummer Day. Caradog (or Caradoc), a local prince, visited her and tried to force himself upon her.

In terror, she fled to a nearby chapel where her uncle, St. Beuno, was praying.

Caradog followed Winefride, caught her at the chapel door and cut off her head with a single blow.

Where her head struck the ground, a rock opened and a spring emerged.

St. Beuno rescued Winefride by placing her head back on her body, and she immediately recovered.

He also cursed Caradog, who instantly vanished into the Otherworld.

(St. Beuno has his own colorful history, with links to Pagan cattle cultus, and sites connected with him as well as a possible contemporary, Merlin. Each year in remembrance, Winefride would place a new cloak for her uncle on a stone in the middle of the river and watch the stone--with the cloak--travel to him. The cloak was never touched by the water.)

Winefride traveled throughout Britain, telling her story and showing the scar around her neck, the only evidence of her calamity. Eventually she returned to St. Beuno's church and founded a convent.

Her well at Holywell is one of the most abundant wells in the UK, pouring forth eighty-one tons of water per minute. Before the brief death of Winefride, this area had been arid and called the "dry valley."

St. Winefride's well has been called one of the "seven great wonders of Wales," and it is easily the greatest holy well in all of Britain.

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