Monkton, Bede's Well
Monkton, Bede's Well
HER Number
178
District
S Tyneside
Site Name
Monkton, Bede's Well
Place
Monkton
Map Sheet
NZ36SW
Class
Water Supply and Drainage
Site Type: Broad
Water Storage Site
Site Type: Specific
Well
General Period
MEDIEVAL
Specific Period
Medieval 1066 to 1540
Form of Evidence
Structure
Description
The earliest references to the well associate it with Bede and claim it was customary as late as 1740 to dip diseased children in the well in the hope they would be restored to health. It was also the centre of celebrations on Midsummer Eve. Analternative suggestion is that it was a wishing well or "bedes-well" (bed=prayer), a type known from pre-Conquest documentary sources. In the early 19th century Cuthbert Ellison of Hebburn Hall placed a Latin inscription over (or round) the well, and this has now been renewed. From the late 19th century until recently it was in danger of burial from tipping of slag, and in the early 20th century it was surrounded by a brick wall and iron railings in an attempt to protect it.
Easting
431980
Northing
564150
Grid Reference
NZ431980564150
Sources
<< HER 178 >> J. Brand, 1789, History of Newcastle, Vol.2, p.54n
R. Surtees, 1820, History of...Durham, II, p. 80
1807, The Picture of Newcastle upon Tyne, p. 83
E. Mackenzie & M. Ross, 1834, History of Durham, I, p. 14
G.R. Hall, 1880, ...Ancient Well Worship in North Tynedale, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, VIII, pp. 76-7
Shields Gazette, 1881, 4,v.1881
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1896, Bede's Well, Monkton, 2, VII, p. 140
Newcastle Library Local Studies- 1908, Bede's Well, Monkton,L942.81, M745W
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1909, Bede's Well, Monkton, 3, III, p. 162
Photo, Newcastle Library Local Studies,- 1920, Bede's Well, no. 1718
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1930, Bede's Well at Monkton, 4, IV, pp. 124-5, 128, plate VI
P.B.G. Binnall & M.H. Dodds,1947, Holy Wells in Northumberland and Durham,Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 4, X (for 1942-46), p. 82
South Shields Library Local Studies ,Chronicle, 1958, 6, vi.1958
Evening Chronicle- 1968, 6.ii.1968, p. 5, cols. 5-8
Journal- 1968, 13.ii.1968,, p. 25, cols.. 1-3
Monthly Chronicle of North Country Lore and Legend, 1888, April, p. 148; NECT, 2015, National Heritage at Risk Grade II Project
R. Surtees, 1820, History of...Durham, II, p. 80
1807, The Picture of Newcastle upon Tyne, p. 83
E. Mackenzie & M. Ross, 1834, History of Durham, I, p. 14
G.R. Hall, 1880, ...Ancient Well Worship in North Tynedale, Archaeologia Aeliana, 2, VIII, pp. 76-7
Shields Gazette, 1881, 4,v.1881
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1896, Bede's Well, Monkton, 2, VII, p. 140
Newcastle Library Local Studies- 1908, Bede's Well, Monkton,L942.81, M745W
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1909, Bede's Well, Monkton, 3, III, p. 162
Photo, Newcastle Library Local Studies,- 1920, Bede's Well, no. 1718
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 1930, Bede's Well at Monkton, 4, IV, pp. 124-5, 128, plate VI
P.B.G. Binnall & M.H. Dodds,1947, Holy Wells in Northumberland and Durham,Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 4, X (for 1942-46), p. 82
South Shields Library Local Studies ,Chronicle, 1958, 6, vi.1958
Evening Chronicle- 1968, 6.ii.1968, p. 5, cols. 5-8
Journal- 1968, 13.ii.1968,, p. 25, cols.. 1-3
Monthly Chronicle of North Country Lore and Legend, 1888, April, p. 148; NECT, 2015, National Heritage at Risk Grade II Project