Another well

(And the clue's in the name!)


We had to be in Tunbridge Wells with the family today, for various reasons. One was to do with our daughter needing a little help from her Dad when buying a car. I got a morning in a huge Hobbycraft store with a six year old who is delightful company and loves anything to do with art and craft. A better way to spend a morning would be hard to envisage. We explored, we looked, we chatted, we laughed, and eventually we made some purchases – see extra – oops that shows that a jigsaw was bought . . . oh dear!

Then we all met up and went to Dunorlan Park, which is great community asset just outside Tunbridge Wells. Once the grounds of a large mansion (which no longer exists), it is now an extensive public park with lake and playgrounds and paths, etc. Such a lovely sunny afternoon, it was a great place to be. And it has a Chalybeate spring, as seen here.

Tunbridge Wells only exists because of these springs. In 1606 a nobleman was making his way back to London from visiting friends. He was thirsty and, finding a fresh water spring, he took a drink. So rejuvenated was he after drinking the iron-rich water, that he declared it to be health-giving to his friends and acquaintances. People flocked to the place and eventually it became a sought after place – the place to go to ‘take the waters’.

The original well is in the centre of the town, but this one is similar and close by. The picture was taken as the girls explored the well and the spring (happily unicorns were accepted), declared it to be like a toilet, but did listen to Grandad talking about the geology of Chalybeate Springs and Grandma explaining about the history of such wells. They were interested to see the brown water trickling out of the spring, but decided they would not take of the waters! 

Not technically a holy well, but I have entered it into International Holy Wells 2018, hoping it will be considered.