TMA Eds — DA Status Needed​…

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baza B
baza Dec 9, 2005 14:30:56
Replying to Paulus

>As for all the St. Helen's Wells - they're holy wells, which TMA allows.

No, holy wells don't belong here unless there's evidence that they're prehistoric, such as the one at Bath.


Baz

R Rhiannon
Rhiannon Dec 9, 2005 14:49:53
Replying to baza

And I suppose we should wave goodbye to all the turf mazes too?

There are some fuzzy grey areas are there not, though. Like really obvious landscape features that are natural. Some of them (eg alderley edge) have attendant prehistoric remains. But should they all have to? Would such things get a duck flag and stay on the site indefinitely? (unlike turf mazes which technically should disappear completely?)

P Paulus
Paulus Dec 9, 2005 15:12:51
Replying to baza

< No, holy wells don't belong here unless there's evidence that they're prehistoric, such as the one at Bath. >

I think the TMA eds have had this out in an earlier thread. Holy wells are here to stay. I appreciate your hydrophobic tendencies, but tough shit!

G goffik
goffik Dec 9, 2005 17:52:15
Replying to baza

I knew we'd come back to this at some stage, dammit! ;o)

'Ere - couldn't they be classified as christianised sites? If the well/spring has always been there, as someone pointed out in the last wells debate, then surely the well-house surrounding it is just an attempt to christianise it or modernise it in some way...

For example (and I've been trying to keep quiet about this one) the one on Cubert Common (http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/3419) has an obviously modern and chritian surround, but the well head itself looks far older...

I can see where Baza's coming from though - the site specifies that proof is needed, but I would imagine that much of the proof for such places has been long washed away, or turned over in the landscaping of the golfcourse...

I, along with Paulus (I think!) believe there is a prehistory to many of the wells, but am in no position to prove it, unfortunately. I've not added any more since the last thread regarding their antiquity. It'd be a shame for the wells to disappear from this site though. I wonder what Julian's view on wells is? I meant to ask at the TME book signing... Anyone in contact with him care to ask?

G x