Holy Well, Walsingham

Dedication: Our Lady of Walsingham?

Location: Holy House

Coordinates: 52.89449N, 0.87601W

Grid reference: TF935368

Heritage designation: none

The Holy House's holy well is almost certainly the newest holy well in England, if not in the whole of Britain: although its fabric is thought to date to the 11th century, its association with the modern-day cult of holy wells is very recent. This previously abandoned medieval well was discovered in 1931 during the construction of the new Holy House, and it was incorporated into its design. Today, this Holy Well is one of only a few actively used holy wells in England, and it is still believed to effect miraculous cures. In fact, the veneration of this well today does not appear to differ greatly from the practice that was related to other holy wells in medieval times, showing that the cult, though damaged by the Reformation, has changed little over the last five centuries. Despite the Holy Well's proximity to the original site of the Holy House, the fact that it is a deep well and not a spring indicates that this well was not a focal point of medieval Walsingham; instead, it has only been a holy site for the last century.

When I visited the Holy Well in the February of 2025, it was in fine condition, and bottles for the water were being sold in the shrine.

A container full of the holy water, which still maintains its reputation for healing

Access:

The well can be visited free of charge whenever the Holy House is open; opening times for the Holy House can be found here: https://www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk/whatson-2/openingtimes/