The Running Well
"The village [of Runwell]…has a holy well, sited around one and a half miles due north of the church. Known as the Running Well or Our Lady's Well, it is sited in a small dell at the boundary of three fields. Much speculation has been made over the years about this ancient well including its influence on the origin of the village name. Runwell is probably derived from Rune Well, meaning a well with a secret."
- 'The Liminal Shore', Alex Langston
While local folklore about the well abounds (much of it dubious), what is certain is that human beings have been visiting the site for over 8,000 years. Up until the early 20th century it was the only source of fresh water for the entire parish and its waters are renowned for being remarkably pure and steady flowing.
Also, the path to the well features one of the last remaining stretches of hollow way in the immediate region ('hola weg' in Old English, meaning sunken road). The pleached trees eventually leading to a crook in the field boundaries that was most likely the site of a small shrine to St. Mary, mentioned in 17th century church records.
Forgotten by most of the local populace, this sacred place is occasionally tended by local practitioners. In decades past, nearby trees would commonly have rags tied to them as votive offerings for good luck, while the lord of Runwell manor (in longstanding tradition) leads a pilgrimage to the well every December 26th to mark St. Stephen's Day and the Hunt of the Wren.
