Cornish Holy Wells: A talk with Guy English
Guy will illustrate the range of Cornish holy wells, both in type and location from end to end of the county. Holy wells are generally springs, not dug, and have been treasured and revered as water sources since long before Christianity labelled them. He will mention curative, miraculous and prophetic wells, and occasional curse…
Guy and his late wife, finding a well or two not covered in earlier books, were determined to try and find them “all”. Of course there are more! But they added twenty or so to the record, with up-to-date photographs, plus GPS positions.
Their hope is that others will follow the paved or muddy track, and in searching for a well, will discover the delights of parts of Cornwall one would never visit for any other reason.
You must book to attend but tickets are free.
Please book at the Library front desk, or email falmouth.library@liscornwall.org.uk to reserve your spot.
About the book
In 2000, Guy and Catharine moved to Cornwall on the latest of a series of adventures together. Guy’s retirement meant they were able to enjoy long walks in the Cornish countryside. Occasionally they came across a holy well. Normally dedicated to a local saint, holy wells were once widespread in Britain and were important features in the medieval sacred landscape.
Over centuries, pilgrims sought the healing powers of their waters and many visitors left symbolic offerings in the form of jewellery, coins and ribbons tied in the trees.
Guy and Catharine’s interest became an obsession and it wasn’t long before they would be touring odd nooks of Cornwall in a specific bid to find holy wells that had been all but lost in the mists of time – especially those which had escaped the attention of earlier authors on the subject.
When Catharine died untimely in 2020, Guy vowed to finish the quest they had begun together. Visiting the final wells of which they knew and tying the whole adventure together in this book.
About the Authors
Catharine English, nee Lidwell, took a degree in Theology, though her first love was botany; after marriage she had a number of roles which left time for painting and poetry. A constant documenter and diarist, she was the driving force of our projects together. Full of surprises, she is possibly the only person (with her family) to have been towed across the Arctic Circle. Northwards. Twice.
Guy English studied Chemistry, followed by a career with Kodak making photographic films in London and the United States. His love of sailing, later gig rowing, and hers for the West of England, led them to retirement in Cornwall in 2000. There they explored the geography, history and botany of this unique environment.
Catharine died untimely in 2020, having completed but not published this study of the life of a village lady botanist with worldwide connections. She did not quite see the finish of another work, a study of the Holy Wells of Cornwall, eventually published in 2024.
Catharine lives on in these books and in a large archive of poetry and art, a sample of which can be seen on www.Idontdopeople.com.