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Holywell church, William Fraser Garden (1856-1921) St John the Baptist, Holywell
History of St John the Baptist
Listed Building
Parish Church. Nave, chancel and north aisle C13, south aisle circa 1300. West tower added in 1547 by the mason Thomas Roper. South porch dates from the 1862 restoration. Tower restored in 1915, vestry rebuilt in 1919
Ancient well, fed by a natural spring. Covered by a semi-circular brick shelter with an elliptical arched opening facing east, capped by a C13 or C14 stone corbel and stone plaque with the inscription ‘Rev S B Beckwith Rector of this Parish AD 1845’.
According to The Holywell Story by John Newell, 1991:
It is thought that the name arose in Roman times, from use of the water for sacred purposes – it really is a spring and not a ‘well’ at all. … According to the legend the well owes it’s reputed sanctity to the seventh century Persian Bishop Ivo who was buried at St Ives and whose remains were transferred to Ramsey Abbey about 1000 AD. His bones, and wells and springs connected with his name were credited with healing properties. As recently as 1933 a woman was seen sitting with her feet in the water to cure a foot complaint. People often came to bathe for such complaints as sore eyes. In 1934 a boy was reported to have been healed of a sore on his forehead after bathing it with water from the well.
There was a church well established at Holywell in 969 … the name of only one incumbent has survived, Gode, who flourished about 990.
In the Domesday Survey it is recorded that ‘In Haliewell the Abbot of Ramsey has 9 Hides (1080 acres) which paid Geld (Landtax) … here is a Church and a Priest and 3 acres of meadow. There is wood for pannage approximately one and quarter miles by one mile in area.’
St John the Baptist, Holywell (RGL2025)
St John the Baptist, Holywell (RGL2025)
St John the Baptist, Holywell (RGL2025)
St John the Baptist, Holywell (RGL2025)
St John the Baptist, Holywell (RGL2025)
St John the Baptist, Holywell (RGL2025)
St John the Baptist, Holywell (RGL2025)
St John the Baptist, Holywell (RGL2025)
St John the Baptist, Holywell (RGL2025)
Manor farm and Holywell Parish Church by Arthur Anderson Fraser
St John the Baptist, Holywell (RGL2025)
The well at Holywell (RGL2025)
The well at Holywell (RGL2025)
The well at Holywell (RGL2025)
Footpath from Holywell to St Ives (RGL2025)
Footpath from Holywell to St Ives (RGL2025)
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