Holy Wells in SUSSEX
RUSPER: NUN'S WELL.
On the south-western side of the parish was situated the small establishment
of Benedictine nuns who for three hundred years were the rectors and patrons of
Horsham Church. When this priory was founded, and by whom, appears to be a
matter of great obscurity. At a short distance from the house, surrounded by
copse-wood and over-hanging trees, is a small well of a circular form, and
surrounded by cut stone, over-grown with moss. A flight of winding steps leading
to it from an adjoining eminence adds a peculiar romantic and pleasing effect to
this venerable work of antiquity, which is known by the name of " Nun's
Well."
No account is to be found of its history, though it may perhaps
have belonged to the neighbouring castle - Sidgwick. The tradition among the
inhabitants affirms that a subterraneous passage connects this castle with the
nunnery at Rusper, which is eight miles distant, but no attempt has been
undertaken to ascertain the truth of this conjecture.
A tradition also states that the old convent bell was sunk in a
pond in front of the house, and has disappeared in the mud.
In the appendix to the History and Antiquities of Horsham,
Dudley Howard, 1836, from which work the above is quoted, it is asserted that
near the building is a very deep well, said to have been used as a place of
destruction for those members of the convent who had dared to break the vows of
chastity.
SIDGWICK CASTLE: ST. MARY'S OR NUN'S WELL.
Sidgwick Castle is in the parish of Broadwater, between Nuthurst and
Horsham, about two miles and a half eastward from the latter.
About thirty yards from the outer moat is a well beautifully constructed of
large blocks of hewn stone. It is called "The Nun's Well." Why, it is
difficult to say, as this castle never was a religious house; it is also
sometimes called " St. Mary's Well." - Ibid, p. 176.
HORSHAM: NORMANDY WELL.
This well obtains its name from the part of the town in which it stands, and
which is supposed to have been used by the Norman Brotherhood, who lived in the
first house, next the churchyard, of the row east of the church called "
The Normandy." This house still retains the name of the "Priests'
House." The "Normandy Well" is open, and runs partly under one of
the houses; it is only about four feet in depth, and yet in the longest drought
the water always stands up (sic) sufficiently high to allow a pail to be dipped
into it. It has been the custom to use. the water from this well for the
baptisms in the church. - Horsham: its History and Antiquities, Miss D.
Hurst, 1868, pp. 32, 33.
MAYFIELD PALACE: ST. DUNSTAN'S WELL.
Adjoining the kitchen apartments at the lower end of the hall is a well of
considerable depth - Black's Guide to Sussex, 1884, says it is reputed to
be 300 feet deep-and sup-plied with the purest water. It is called " St.
Dunstan's Well," and was probably dedicated in his honour, and consequently
the resort of pilgrims and the reputed scene of miracles. It is guarded by four
walls, having one entrance. - Suss. Arch. Coll., ii. 244.
LEWES: PIN WELL.
On the opposite side to the Friends' Meet-ing House, enclosed by brick
walls, is a perennial spring that bursts out from the ad-joining chalk-ridge,
and rushes into the neighbouring brooks. This spring bears the ancient name of
"Pin Well," and in former times enjoyed some celebrity. It was within
the limits of the grounds belonging to the Grey Friary ; it was approached by
steps. The road from Pin Well to the bottom of School Hill was commonly called
" The Friars' Walk." It is near the station. Pins were formerly
dropped into it. The well is now - 1890 - filled in; but its site, a small
irregularly shaped piece' of ground, is still distinguishable, being surrounded
by a low brick and flint wall, having on the side fronting Friars' Walk a stone
tablet with "Pin Well " cut on it.
A writer of the last century makes the following remarks anent the well:
" Pynwell Street, so called from Pynwell, a very pure spring, which rises
near the west end of `Friars' Wall,' and was so called from Pinn or Pynn, a
pine-tree, which formerly shadowed it, leads from School Hill, down by All
Saints' churchyard, on the west, but formerly had its direction on the other
side, nearly opposite `Pynwell.' " - History of Lewes and
Brighthelmstone, by Paul Duncan, Lewes, 1795, p. 366.
(The account of these five wells has been kindly supplied to
me by C. T. Phillips, Esq., Lewes.)
EASTBOURNE: HOLY WELL.
" The chalybeate springs at Holywell, a short distance west of the Sea
Houses, are highly worthy the attention of the visitor. The quality of the water
is said intimately to resemble the far-famed springs of Clifton, and it has been
found highly beneficial in many of the diseases for which the mineral waters of
Bristol are almost deemed a specific."
The analysis, however, proves them to consist of simple, but very fine,
surface water. "Not far distant there was a chapel dedicated to St.
Gregory. Tradition states that the French, in one of their marauding
expeditions, landed - here, burnt the chapel, and carried off its bell to - some
church in Normandy. The chroniclers are silent as to this event." - History
of Sussex, Horsfield, 1831, vol. i., 291. Sussex, by Lower, 1870,
vol. i., 151. Suss. Arch. Coll., xiv. 125.
From Antiquity Volume XXII, 1890, p.255-6
