There is little known about St Anne's Well, an ancient holy well originally called Wealletune, after the place-name Welton in East Yorkshire. It was adopted by Christianity and renamed St Anne's Well around 1080. Prior to this, it is believed to have been a site of pagan ritual, with the well serving as a portal to the Otherworld. This place holds particular meaning for me, as I played around the site of the well as a child. Unaware at the time of the history beneath my feet, I find myself continuing to be drawn back there in dreams.
"... the holy well stands before a long, if tiny and ill-lit, corridor of history with doors leading off into many unexpected and little-visited rooms..." —James Rattue, author of The Living Stream.
The well has long been covered with stone slabs, and a tree has attempted to grow over it. Over the years, it has remained sheltered within the grounds of Welton House, a large estate that was demolished in 1952.
An archaeological report from an area near the well uncovered early prehistoric, Iron Age, Roman, and early medieval pottery in a layer of ‘hillwash’ above the natural chalk. The presence of these pottery fragments testifies to early settlement in the vicinity of the site, including some that may date to the late 11th century, when the well came into being.
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| Welton House 1923 |
I was fortunate to be granted access to the site recently and was delighted to discover the well and natural spring, still seeping from the ground. For at least a thousand years, this ancient spring has served a multitude of needs. I hope to convey a sense of this timeless promise in the photographs below.
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| The water is trickling into here. The well itself is about 3 metres to the right. |
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| St Anne's Well (covered) |
"In 1385 there was a well at Bisham (Berkshire) where a tame bird dwelt atop a tree, in whose nest offerings were left in return for the cure of sore eyes at the well." —The Living Stream
My composition and film Home Ground features footage
showing the remains of St Anne's Well.
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Ganoderma Applanatum |
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| White Holly |
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| Still from St Anne's Well |
This is an excerpt from my 40-minute immersive soundscape, which incorporates CymaScope imagery transcribed from the source audio by John Stuart Reid. It was first presented at the Islington Arts Factory in April 2017 during the opening night of my solo exhibition, How Shall I Get Elephants To Stay, and later showcased at the Leeds Festival 2019 cinema tent, courtesy of Film Oxford.
Within the CymaScope instrument, the surface of pure water serves as a super-sensitive membrane. By imprinting sounds onto the liquid surface, unique patterns of sound energy are created for every distinct sound.
St Anne's Well is a meditative audio-visual experience designed to foster a deeper connection with the natural world.
As the soundscape unfolds, various bird calls sing out, with the heron at the still centre. The heron is an enigmatic creature, deeply rooted in mythology and folklore. To me, herons are among the most beautiful beings to grace our skies, and whenever I see one, I instinctively feel it is a "good omen;" somehow, they resonate with me. In St Anne's Well, the heron may serve as both guardian and oracle, yet it remains an enduring presence in our subconscious landscapes.
"Give the bird a gift. Open the portal to the Otherworld."
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| Ganoderma Applanatum |
Ganoderma Applanatum, also known as The Artist’s Conk, caught my eye growing on a tree near the well. At the time, I didn’t know its name, but it intrigued me, so I took it as a memento. It was nourished by St Anne’s Well, Wealletune. In dreams, I wander these grounds and sleep in the water, wrapping it around me like a blanket. The well feels tangible within this bracket fungus, which I can now reflect upon as I hold it in my hands.
