The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

The following information has been provided under the terms and conditions of access as detailed on GGAT’s website www.ggat.org.uk.  Copyright is reserved on all data supplied by the GGAT HER Charitable Trust. All output resulting from the use of the data must acknowledge the source as follows:-
Derived from information held by the GGAT HER Charitable Trust copyright.

The data below is intended to be used for information and research only and is not for use as part of a commercial project.  If you wish to use information derived from material held by the GGAT HER Charitable Trust for publication in printed or multimedia form or to compile resources for commercial use, prior permission must be obtained in writing. For further information or to arrange a visit to the Trust please send an enquiry form http://www.ggat.org.uk/her/english/enquiry_form.html to her@ggat.org.uk.

Thornwell Well

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 01200g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Chepstow
Unitary authority : Monmouthshire
NGR : ST53839164
Site Type (preferred type first) : Medieval Well

Summary :
Healing well, supposed to be good for sore eyes. No visible remains now survive.

Description :
Healing well, supposed to be good for sore eyes. According to local tradition, once blessed by a Bishop of Llandaff. Surrounded by a stone wall, apparently modern, with an attached stone roof. Used as a sheep dip in 1956. The well is 3.0m long by 2.4m wide and is surrounded by a stone wall, which is 0.4m wide and 1.8m high, and apparently modern, with an attached stone roof (OS card ST 59 SW 36).

The site is not in Jones 1954, though is an example of his class C wells ('wells which, in early literature or in surviving tradition, are known to have been primarily reputed to be healing wells, and whose names are not those of saints as in class A, and are not as closely or obviously connected with churches as those in class B'). No visible remains now survive; the site has been lost to 20th century housing development (Roberts 2011).

Evans in 2002, during a recent survey near Coity, Mid Glamorgan, noted a well with similar structure to the well at Thornwell. It seems likely that the present structure dates from the early post-medieval period and is contemporary with the rebuilding work at the farmhouse after the acquisition by the Morgan family at the end of the 17th century, but the origins are medieval.

Mortar samples were taken during a watching brief by Sell, S. 2007 (E004511) and they indicate an early post-medieval date, perhaps the mid- or late 17th century, for its construction. However a sample taken from the western side of the passage indicates a later construction date, perhaps the mid- or late 18th century.

The surrounding settlement is named after this well. Is shown on the 1st edition OS map and lies 40m west of Thornwell Farmhouse. The structure was exposed after a clearance of a considerable depth of modern rubbish. It lay close to, and perhaps a metre below the level of the original farm access road to the northeast.

The well consisted of a vaulted chamber in stone, whose roof had collapsed or been destroyed, measuring approximately 2.20m in length and 1.85m wide, aligned approximately north-south along its long axis. The chamber, which appeared to be constructed from random blocks of stone, roughly faced, was closed at its northern end.

Access had been from the opposite end, where the quoins were roughly dressed and still held opposing bolts that might have been used to secure a bar, or chain or other restraining device. The lower surface of this entrance, at a depth of 1.60m below the start of the springing for the former vaulting, forms the upper surface of the southern wall of the well-chamber, appears to be the terminus of a stone- floored passage of unknown length leading in a southerly direction.

Above the level of the entrance to the chamber, the upper part of the former void had been backfilled with red clay and stone beneath recent rubbish. This layer had a depth of 1.60m from the top of the chamber wall. Beneath this was a layer of grey alluvial deposits to the limit of excavation at a depth of 2.80m. Masonry from this layer probably derives from the collapse or destruction of the roof of the chamber. The water source appears to be a spring issuing close to the limit of excavation, a fact confirmed by deep drainage work carried out in August 2007.

The passage, leading to the chamber entrance, seems to have been filled with modern rubbish, seeming to fill an extensive void. There appeared to be a wall lining along the western side of the passage, of coursed slabs but rougher construction was used in the chamber itself. The well has been capped for preservation in situ (Sell, 2007).

Sources :
CPM , 1990 , Preliminary Archaeological Assessment of Land at Thornwell, Chepstow. ( © CPM)
Roberts, R. , 2011 , Medieval and Post-Medieval Holy wells in Glamorgan and Gwent
Sell, S. H. , 2007 , Thornwell Farm, Chepstow, Monmouthshire: Archaeological Watching Brief
Evans EM, 2003-04, GGAT 73 Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Sites Project

Events :
E003247 : Field Visit to Thornwell (year : 2010)
E000337 : Preliminary Archaeological Assessment of Land at Thornwell, Chepstow. (year : 1990)
E002220 : Newhouse Farm, Manufacturers Village Centre (year : 1995)
E002224 : Newhouse Farm (year : 1996)
E004511 : Thornwell Farm, Chepstow, Monmouthshire WB (year : 2007)

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01201g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 04432g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 04440g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 04441g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 05341g - 05343g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 05344g

Compiled date : 12-03-2004


March 31, 2025, 11:53 am - HTML file produced from GGAT HER Charitable Trust Ltd. Heathfield House, Heathfield, Swansea SA1 Tel. 01792 655208; Fax 01792 474469 website: www.ggat.org.uk  email: her@ggat.org.uk Registered Charity no. 505609
Data supplied by in partnership with Local Authorities, Cadw and the partners of ENDEX © GGAT HER Charitable Trust, 2025 (and in part © Crown, 2025).