Cornwall's holy wells are among the most intimate and overlooked sacred sites in Britain. Numbering over two hundred, they range from simple springs marked by a few stones to elaborate medieval well-houses with carved granite basins. Most are dedicated to Celtic saints — Madron, Clether, Keyne, Euny — whose names often preserve pre-Christian water deities thinly disguised by the early Church.
The veneration of water is one of the oldest and most persistent forms of sacred practice in these islands. Archaeological evidence shows that springs and pools were receiving offerings — weapons, coins, food, animal remains — from at least the Bronze Age. The arrival of Christianity did not suppress this practice but redirected it: the old water-spirits became saints, and the healing powers attributed to the springs were reframed as miracles.
Many Cornish wells retain their reputation for healing specific ailments. Madron Well was famous for curing skin conditions and predicting the future by floating pins on the water surface. St Clether's well was sought for eye complaints. Others were believed to cure rickets, whooping cough, or infertility. Offerings of rags, pins, and coins continue to be left at several wells to this day — a tradition stretching back centuries without interruption.
This guide covers seven of the finest and most accessible holy wells in Cornwall. Some are easy to find; others require determination and an Ordnance Survey map. All reward the visitor who approaches with care and quiet attention. These are places of water, stone, and deep time — treat them gently.