View N of St Winifred's well chapel & St James' Church, Holywell, Flintshire, Wales, UK. Two-storey chapel (L) built c 1500 for Lady Margaret Beaufort
View N of St Winifred's well chapel & St James' Church, Holywell, Flintshire, Wales, UK. The two-storey chapel (L) was built c 1500 for Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII & wife of Thomas Stanley, Earl of Derby. The spring enters the inner, star-shaped well below the nave & flows to the outer bathing pool beyond. Tradition dates first appearance of spring to 660AD when princess Gwenfrewi (Winifred) was beheaded by spurned suitor Caradoc. Water sprang from the ground where her head landed: St Beuno replaced the head & brought Gwenfrewi back to life. It is customary for pilgrims to go through the inner well three times, then complete their prayers while kneeling on St Beuno's Stone in the outer bath. In 1917 mining operations severed the original stream & another source was diverted to the bathing pool & well: cures continue to this day.
Size: 4961px × 3751px
Location: St Winifred's Chapel, Holywell, Flintshire, Wales, UK
Photo credit: © Mick Sharp / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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