Celtic Logo
Click Here to open Supanames.co.uk in a new window...

All images and text are Copyright 2003 Terry Faull.

   Details of the Holy Well

Back To List

Previous Record

Next Record

Location

 

Okehampton

 

Holy Well Name

 

Fitz's Well

 

Map Reference

 

SX592 938: Public access

 

Date Visited

 

Nov-02

 

An interesting well site on Dartmoor yet close to the town of Okehampton, to the military camp and which may explain why there was recent evidence of devotional or wishing use in the form of strips of cloth (clouties) tied to a tree which stands nearby. The spring is now covered by large granite slabs and a modern metal cover. Grade 2 listed in Devon Sites and Monuments Register Adjoining is an ancient stone Dartmoor cross which may have been brought here from a chapel dedicated to St Michael which once stood nearby at Halstock. The well was noted as being dry in 1676 which is about 100 years after one version of its origin which attributes the well to a  Sir John Fitz who also has been given credit for wells at Princetown and Tavistock. Another local legend is that the well and cross are linked to a husband and wife who got lost on the moor after leaving Halstock and who became convinced that the spell would only be broken by finding water; when they stumbled across this spring they were able to find their way home and they set up a cross by the spring in thanksgiving. Water a-plenty now runs from the spring. Tradition of young people visiting on Easter morning to learn their fortune. Also known as Spicer's Well. Records also suggest another well at Okehampton on the banks of the river Okement(SX588 955) but search and local enquiries did not produce any evidence for this.

[Home Page] [About the Project] [History of Holy Wells] [Holy Wells List] [Holy Well Details] [Location Map] [Contact Us]