A very interesting talk about wells in Ripon and the surrounding villages was given by Mr Les Taylor at the meeting of the Ripon Club for the Blind on April 1.

Les traced the history of the wells from pagan times to the present day and talked specifically about some of the wells in Ripon and some in neighbouring villages including Copgrove, Copt Hewick, Catterick, Mickley and Wilsill. he explained that many wells were adopted by the church and dedicated to Christian saints such as, for example, St Wilfrid, St Helen, St Mungo and St Swithin. One, near Fountains Abbey, was named Robin Hood’s Well in commemoration of an established local legend. Some wells possess medicinal properties, one of these being the sulphur well in Spa Gill woods, near Aldfield. Mr Taylor mentioned the annual floral well dressings in Derbyshire villages, now an important visitor attraction, and suggested that the possibility of dressing some of the wells in Ripon might merit consideration.

In conclusion, club members added their recollections and experiences of wells in Ripon, and Les was thanked and applauded for a most informative talk. A programme of music and humour will be presented by the ‘Side by Side’ group at the next meeting of the club on April 15.