Lady's Well

Set in remote grove of trees this serene pool has a magical and yet calming feel to it. As it's tucked away, you will probably find yourselves the only people here and this just adds to its charm.

The romans used to create these watering places beside their roads and this well is a perfect example. It was rumoured that this well was associated with the Anglo-Saxon Saint Ninian, the fifth century apostle of the border.

Legend has it the saint baptised many early Christians in its holy water. In Medieval times, it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which is where it gets the name Lady's Well. The powerful spring that feeds the pool is the source of Holystone village's water supply.

A stone cross, placed in its centre during Victorian times, adds to its mystery.

In 1780 a 15th-century statue of St Paulinus was brought to Holystone from Alnwick Castle and erected in the centre of the pool. Then in the Victorian period, the statue was moved to dry ground at the west end of the pool and a stone cross in Celtic style was raised in the pool to replace it. The cross is inscribed with the words 'IN THIS PLACE PAVLINUS THE BISHOP BAPTIZED THREE THOUSAND NORTHVMBRIANS - EASTER DCXXVII'.

If you want to know more there is a fantastic write up on britainexpress.com.