Dating the age of wells

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Branwen B
Branwen Apr 10, 2010 09:08:35
Replying to tjj

You'de like the folklore relating to wells that move too, tjj, though one assumes these are spring fed wells. Usually it's because someone went against some custom or taboo practiced at the well/spring and it got offended and moved elsewhere, though in reality it's probably more to do with the water table changing with better drainage. A lot of wells seen on 1800's maps just won't exist anymore for this reason, if none other.

T tjj
tjj Apr 10, 2010 18:09:36
Replying to Branwen

Branwen wrote:
You'de like the folklore relating to wells that move too, tjj, though one assumes these are spring fed wells. Usually it's because someone went against some custom or taboo practiced at the well/spring and it got offended and moved elsewhere, though in reality it's probably more to do with the water table changing with better drainage. A lot of wells seen on 1800's maps just won't exist anymore for this reason, if none other.
Hi Branwen, really good to see you here again, I've missed you.

Folklore about wells that move sounds fascinating, I will do a bit of reading up (aka internet research). It was not unusual for houses that are over a certain age to have had a well in the garden - there is an area near to me where several of the back gardens have sealed off wells. I assumed they fell out of use when plumbing and mains water started to become the norm.
Also in my town there is a small river (the Cole) that used to flow where there is now a dual carriageway; there are ancient willows along the central reservation - strange to think it used to be a river bank. The river was culverted underground and flows above ground again about a mile away.

T tiompan
tiompan Apr 10, 2010 19:44:43
Replying to Branwen

Branwen wrote:
You'de like the folklore relating to wells that move too, tjj, though one assumes these are spring fed wells. Usually it's because someone went against some custom or taboo practiced at the well/spring and it got offended and moved elsewhere, though in reality it's probably more to do with the water table changing with better drainage. A lot of wells seen on 1800's maps just won't exist anymore for this reason, if none other.
Good to see ye back B. Most of the houses in our area had wells according to early large scale OS maps ,none to be seen now . There was one at our house despite being about 100m to the burn so must have been worthwhile .

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