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Sunday 28 July 2013

Our Ladies Well Threshfield, near Linton in Craven


The Lady Well 


The well is still known locally as a healing well with powers to strengthen weak eyes and scare off evil spirits. 

It attracted pilgrims from a wide area and still continues to draw visitors and pilgrims for a variety of reason, not least because it is a peaceful, beautiful spot hidden from the road on the path down to the river. 
It is mentioned in Holy Wells of Yorkshire Part II - Edna Whelan 
This is one of several wells situated beside the River Wharfe on its long journey from Beckermonds in Langstrothdale to its meeting with the Ouse, North of Cawood. Threshfield is near Linton-in-Craven, on the upper stretches of the Wharfe and the Well of Our Lady emerges as a clear spring of water near to Grassington Bridge. The well was looked on as a sure and certain place of safety and refuge from all supernatural visitants, as shown by a certain legend; Pam the Fiddler was a teacher at Threshfield school many years ago and as he played his fiddle to entertain his pupils a ghost would appear and stand listening to the music. After Pam's death a local man returning home late one night saw Pam on the roof of the school fighting with the local vicar and accompanied by imps. The witness sneezed, and the imps and Pam's ghost chased him; he took refuge in the shelter of the well where he stayed till cock-crow, safe from attack. This story was told to me by Robert Greenwood, a farmer's son who was born and still lives in the area, and attended the school in the 1970s. In the early 1900's the local youth made good use of the properties of the waters of the well. Those who were 'held by Cupids Chain' drank from the well to find ' fresh inspirations from the copious drafts of the cooling waters'  (Arthur Millar Yorkshire Notes and Queries )

The well formerly attracted pilgrims from far and near, its waters being famed for their healing properties for many ailments. Now it is still in good condition and attracts visitors out of curiosity. In the early 1900s it was used by the youth of the district who 'being held by Cupid's Chain seemed to gain fresh inspirations from copious draughts of the cooling waters' [Arthur Millar, Yorkshire Notes & Queries]. Could 'Pam' derive from Pan? 
http://people.bath.ac.uk/liskmj/living-spring/sourcearchive/fs4/fs4ew1.htm

Os Reference   SD 998638

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