Old Wives Well would once have stood on open moors, but it now hidden in the woods a short distance from the roadside. The name ‘Old Wife’ may imply a prehistoric origin to the site, a Roman Road also runs nearby.

The words “NATTIE FONTEIN” are carved into the well, and there are many suggestions as to its meaning, the most commonly quoted is a corruption of ‘Fons Natalis’ a celtic water nymph.

The site clearly still carries meaning for some as there ribbons in the trees all around, making this a Clootie well. Whatever your opinion the site certainly has a lot of history, even if its true origins are unclear.

See The Smell of Water for some more detailed research on the site.