St. Blaise's Well
Encyclopedia
St Blaise's Well is a holy well
located in the grounds of the old Bishop's Palace
(residence of Bishops of the see of Rochester until 1845), now part of Bromley Civic Centre. in Bromley
, Kent.
by King Ethelbert II
of Kent around 750 AD. A well was constructed a few hundred yards away from the source and marked with oak trees. Its chalybeate
water (containing traces of iron) was reputed to have healing properties.
The well eventually became a place of pilgrimage and an oratory
in honour of St Blaise was built close by (Bromley, and the west Kent area in general, was dependent on the wool trade of which Blaise was the patron saint
). The site was visited, not only on account of the reputed medicinal properties of the water, but also for the 40 days remittance of penance
granted by the Pope to those who on the three holy days of Pentecost
(Whitsun and the following two days) made their confession and offered prayers at St Blaise's Chapel.
After the Reformation
, the oratory
fell into ruin and the well into disuse - during the course of time becoming buried and forgotten. However it was rediscovered in 1754, by a Mr. Harwood, the Bishop's chaplain, who noticed a "yellow ochrey sediment, remaining in the tract of a small current, leading from the spring to the corner of the moat, with the waters of which it used to mix".
In 1756, Thomas Reynolds, a surgeon, conducted various experiments to test the medicinal qualities of the water from the well and wrote that "the water of this spring is much richer in mineral contents than the water of Tunbridge Wells". He also gave an account of the rediscovery of the well:
An impression of the site, as it was in the early 19th century, can also be gleaned from this account by William Hone
, in his "Table Book" of 1827:
Hone also reported that the well was beginning to fall into disrepair and the area becoming overgrown - this process continued throughout the nineteenth century as the well became less popular as a tourist/pilgrimage site. In 1887, the owner of the Bishop's palace (Mr. Coles Child) reported that, "The well is still in existence, although the whole building, as restored by my father, was knocked into the moat during the last heavy snowstorm".
The well was eventually reconstructed and now stands in a Pulhamite
rockery on the edge of a small lake. The outfall from the well flows into the lake which itself used to be part of the moat surrounding the old Bishop's palace
(the latter now part of Bromley Civic Centre).
Holy well
A holy well, or sacred spring, is a small body of water emerging from underground and revered either in a Pagan or Christian context, often both. Holy wells were frequently pagan sacred sites that later became Christianized. The term 'holy well' is commonly employed to refer to any water source of...
located in the grounds of the old Bishop's Palace
Bromley Palace
Bromley Palace is a manor house in Bromley, London Borough of Bromley; and was the residence of the Bishops of Rochester from the 12th century to 1845...
(residence of Bishops of the see of Rochester until 1845), now part of Bromley Civic Centre. in Bromley
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
, Kent.
History of the site
It appears that a spring already existed on the site when it was granted to Bishop EardwulfEardwulf of Rochester
Eardwulf was a medieval Bishop of Rochester.Eardwulf was consecrated in 747. He died between 765 and 772. Between 759 and 765, King Sigeread of Kent granted land to Eardwulf and his clergy.-External links:*...
by King Ethelbert II
Æthelbert II of Kent
Æthelbert II was king of Kent. Upon the death of his father Wihtred s:Ecclesiastical History of the English People/Book 5#23, the kingdom was ruled by his three sons, Æthelbert II, Eadberht I and Ælfric. Æthelbert seems to have outlived both of his brothers and later reigned jointly with his...
of Kent around 750 AD. A well was constructed a few hundred yards away from the source and marked with oak trees. Its chalybeate
Chalybeate
Chalybeate waters, also known as ferruginous waters, are mineral spring waters containing salts of iron.-Name:The word "chalybeate" is derived from the Latin word for steel, "chalybs", which follows from the Greek word "khalups"...
water (containing traces of iron) was reputed to have healing properties.
The well eventually became a place of pilgrimage and an oratory
Oratory (worship)
An oratory is a Christian room for prayer, from the Latin orare, to pray.-Catholic church:In the Roman Catholic Church, an oratory is a structure other than a parish church, set aside by ecclesiastical authority for prayer and the celebration of Mass...
in honour of St Blaise was built close by (Bromley, and the west Kent area in general, was dependent on the wool trade of which Blaise was the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
). The site was visited, not only on account of the reputed medicinal properties of the water, but also for the 40 days remittance of penance
Penance
Penance is repentance of sins as well as the proper name of the Roman Catholic, Orthodox Christian, and Anglican Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation/Confession. It also plays a part in non-sacramental confession among Lutherans and other Protestants...
granted by the Pope to those who on the three holy days of Pentecost
Pentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
(Whitsun and the following two days) made their confession and offered prayers at St Blaise's Chapel.
After the Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
, the oratory
Oratory (worship)
An oratory is a Christian room for prayer, from the Latin orare, to pray.-Catholic church:In the Roman Catholic Church, an oratory is a structure other than a parish church, set aside by ecclesiastical authority for prayer and the celebration of Mass...
fell into ruin and the well into disuse - during the course of time becoming buried and forgotten. However it was rediscovered in 1754, by a Mr. Harwood, the Bishop's chaplain, who noticed a "yellow ochrey sediment, remaining in the tract of a small current, leading from the spring to the corner of the moat, with the waters of which it used to mix".
In 1756, Thomas Reynolds, a surgeon, conducted various experiments to test the medicinal qualities of the water from the well and wrote that "the water of this spring is much richer in mineral contents than the water of Tunbridge Wells". He also gave an account of the rediscovery of the well:
- The Chalybeat Water.....arises at the foot of a declivity a very small distance eastward from the palace of the Lord Bishop of Rochester, at Bromley in Kent. The soil through which it passes is gravel and it issues immediately from a bed of pure white sand......in digging about it there were found the remains of steps leading down to it made of oak plank, which appeared as if they had laid under ground a great many years.
- When his Lordship (i.e. the Bishop) was acquainted that the water of this Spring had been examined, and found to be a good Chalybeat, he, with great humanity, immediately ordered it to be secured...and enclosed in a circular brick-work like the top of a well......great numbers of people, of all conditions, but chiefly of the middling and poorer sort, drink daily of this excellent water, many of whom have been remarkably relieved from various infirmities and diseases, which were not only afflicting but dangerous.
An impression of the site, as it was in the early 19th century, can also be gleaned from this account by William Hone
William Hone
William Hone was an English writer, satirist and bookseller. His victorious court battle against government censorship in 1817 marked a turning point in the fight for British press freedom.-Biography:...
, in his "Table Book" of 1827:
- The water of the Bishop's well.....rises so slowly as to yield scarcely a gallon in a quarter of an hour and is retained in a small well about sixteen inches in diameter. To the stone-work of this little well a wooden cover is attached by a chain. When the fluid attains a certain height its surplus trickles through an orifice at the side, to increase the water of a moat, or small lake, which borders the grounds of the palace, and is overhung on each side with the branches of luxuriant shrubs and trees. Above the well there is a roof of thatch, supported by six pillars, in the manner of a rustic temple, heightening the picturesque appearance of the scene (see illustration).
Hone also reported that the well was beginning to fall into disrepair and the area becoming overgrown - this process continued throughout the nineteenth century as the well became less popular as a tourist/pilgrimage site. In 1887, the owner of the Bishop's palace (Mr. Coles Child) reported that, "The well is still in existence, although the whole building, as restored by my father, was knocked into the moat during the last heavy snowstorm".
The well was eventually reconstructed and now stands in a Pulhamite
Pulhamite
Pulhamite was a patented anthropic rock 'material' invented by James Pulham of the firm James Pulham and Son of Broxbourne.Pulhamite, which usually looked like gritty sandstone, was used to join natural rocks together or crafted to simulate natural stone features. The recipe went to the grave...
rockery on the edge of a small lake. The outfall from the well flows into the lake which itself used to be part of the moat surrounding the old Bishop's palace
Bromley Palace
Bromley Palace is a manor house in Bromley, London Borough of Bromley; and was the residence of the Bishops of Rochester from the 12th century to 1845...
(the latter now part of Bromley Civic Centre).
Further reading
- Lysons, Daniel The Environs of London - vol. 4: Counties of Herts, Essex & Kent (1796) - "British history online".
- Hasted, Edward. The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 1 (1797) pp550–570.
- Wilson, Thomas. An Accurate Description of Bromley (1797), p. 23.
- Dunkin, John. History and Antiquities of Bromley (J. Dunkin, 1815), pp. 14-15.
- Hone, William. The Table Book of Daily Information and Recreation (1827).
- Strong, Edward. A History of Bromley in Kent (Edward Strong, 1858) pp38 ff.
- George Clinch. Antiquarian Jottings relating to Bromley, Hayes, Keston and West Wickham in Kent (George Clinch, 1889). pp24–28.
- Walford, Edward. Greater London: a narrative of its history, its people, and its places (Adamant Media Corporation, 1894).
- Horsburgh, E.L.S. Bromley, Kent, from the earliest times to the present century (1929) p. 100.
- Williams, Barrie. St Blaise's Well, Bromley, Kent (The Holy Wells Journal, Issue 6 - Summer 1998 [Source Online Archive]).
External links
- St. Blaise's Well (Friends of Bromley Town Parks & Gardens).
- St Blaise's Well (from "SOURCE" - the Holy Wells Journal.)
- A Bromley Walk