Folk-Lore of West and Mid-WalesDavies, Jonathan Ceredig
History
Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales
Davies, Jonathan Ceredig
Folklore -- Wales; Wales -- Social life and customs
Ffynon-Ddewi, or St. David's Well, near Alltyrodyn, in the same
parish, was also much resorted to once, even within living memory,
as it was popularly esteemed for its cures of whooping-cough.
THE LLANDYSSILIO WELL.
In the parish of Llandyssiliogogo, Cardiganshire, a well, known as
Ffynon Blaenglewinfawr, was once popularly esteemed for its cures of
bad legs and other physical troubles. It is said that some who went
there on crutches were cured.
FFYNON Y GROES (WELL OF THE CROSS).
This well is in the parish of Llangranog, Cardiganshire, and was famous
once, for tradition, says that in former times, pilgrims rested here
to quench their thirst and to make the sign of the Cross. This parish
has also its Ffynon Fair, or St. Mary's Well.
FFYNON Y PISTYLL.
This well, which was once celebrated for its healing virtues is in
the neighbourhood of Kidwelly, in Carmarthenshire, and its water
cured sore eyes.
THE WELL OF FFOSANNA.
This well is also in Carmarthenshire, in the parish of Cyuwil
Elvet. There was hardly a well in the county more celebrated in former
times than "Ffynon Ffosanna," and there are traditions still extant
in the neighbourhood, that many of the cripples who resorted here,
went home healed.
FFYNON BECCA.
Another well-known well of great repute in Carmarthenshire, is
Becca's Well, between Newcastle Emlyn and Llandyssul. This well is
still thought by many to possess health-restoring qualities, and its
water cured both gravel and diseased eyes. It was much resorted to
within living memory.
ST. NON'S WELL, NEAR ST. DAVID'S.
This famous holy well, dedicated to Non, the mother of St. David,
Patron Saint of Wales, is situated near the remains of St. Non's
Chapel, near St. David's, and was formerly much resorted to for
many complaints; and Fenton in his History of Pembrokeshire says:
"In my infancy, as was the general usage with respect to children at
that time, I was often dipped in it, and offerings, however trifling,
even of a farthing or a pin, were made after each ablution, and the
bottom of the well shone with votive brass.... At the upper end of the
field leading to Non's Chapel there appears the ruined site of a house,
probably inhabited by the person deputed to take care of the spring,
most likely a lucrative employment in more superstitious times."
When I visited the neighbourhood a few years ago, an old man at
St. David's informed me that he remembered diseased persons coming
to the well, and returning home completely restored to good health,
and that without doubt there must be healing virtues in the water
of this sacred spring. The old man also believed that St. David was
baptised in the well. Pembrokeshire people firmly believe that the
Patron Saint of Wales was born in the neighbourhood which bears his
name. The Welsh name for the cathedral and the town of St. David's
is Ty Ddewi, which means the House of David.
ST. EDREN'S WELL.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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