Record Details

NHER Number:7886
Type of record:Monument
Name:St Walstan's Well

Summary

St Walstan's Well was a medieval holy well. It is traditionally thought to be where St Walstan's hearse was stopped for the second time. It dried up after 1750 and in 1978 it survived as a deep circular pit. A few lumps of flint wall were seen laying at its base.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:TG 1534 1141
Map Sheet:TG11SE
Parish:COSTESSEY, SOUTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Full description

In legend the second stopping place of Walstan's hearse.
Medieval holy well. Dried up after 1750. According to (S1) last seen in 1952, not found 1962.

April 1978. Visit.
Well survives as a deep circular pit filled with fallen trees, about 4m in diameter; a few lumps of flint walling at bottom.
E. Rose (NAU).

October 2013.
Location revised based on Ordnance Survey second edition 25 inch to the mile map (S2).
J. Albone (HES), 4 October 2013

January 2015.
Works taking place in the area to extend the golf course.
A silver birch tree on the edge of the hollow has been removed and in taking up its roots quite a lot of loose flints were exposed. Nothing 'solid'. The depression is still there, and the plan is to fence it off and erect a plaque about St Walstan and the well.
D. Gurney (HES), 9 January 2015.

Monument Types

  • HOLY WELL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • WALL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
  • WELL (Medieval to 18th Century - 1066 AD to 1750 AD)

Associated Finds - none

Protected Status - none

Sources and further reading

---Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2016. Well, well… Paul finds ancient link to saint. 14 April.
---Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Miscellaneous. Costessey.
<S1>Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TG 11 SE 7.
<S2>Map: Ordnance Survey. 1902-7. Ordnance Survey 25" 2nd edition (1902-7).

Related records - none

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