St Edith's Well, Stoke Edith

The well (inside the semi-circular archway) is just inside the gateway to St Mary the Virgin's Church in Stoke Edith. The original dedication of the church was to St Edith, who, so legend goes, carried the water to mix the mortar for the building, but she was carrying it such long distances that she became exhausted, at which point the spring which now feeds the well then miraculously appeared.

The Lady Emily Foley, who occupied Stoke Edith park in the 19th century had the well covered over to discourage those who wished to benefit from its supposed healing properties, and a grid still covers it today.

Stoke Edith, and St Edith's Well were both named after Edith, the daughter of King Edgar. She is buried at the church she built at Wilton near Salisbury.

(Information provided by Rosemary Lockie)