The Paranormal Database

Mary Vision

Location: Little Walsingham (Norfolk) - Shrine
Type: Legend
Date / Time: 1061 onwards
Further Comments: Lady Richeldis had a vision of the Virgin Mary who commanded that a replica of her Nazareth house be built. Richeldis constructed the shrine and it became highly popular until its destruction during the Reformation. The Shrine and its healing well are now operational again.

The Devil, from an engraving by Albrecht Durer.

The Demons Below See

Location: Liverpool (Merseyside) - Monk's Well, Wavertree
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Still present (but a flower bed)
Further Comments: This old well has the words 'Qui non dat quod habet, Daemon infra vide 1414' carved above it. It was said that any traveller passing by would have no choice but to drink the waters and give a donation to charity, otherwise the Devil (chained under the well) would laugh.

Brother or Sister

Location: Liverpool (Merseyside) - Well in Everton area, but covered over pre 1859
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Pre-1850s
Further Comments: The site of a fratricide, the well was at one point considered haunted by the dead sibling before being covered over.

Epilepsy Cure

Location: Llandegla (Clwyd) - St Tecla's Well
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Well still present
Further Comments: This well was said to cure epilepsy by washing in its waters after sunset, making an offering of fourpence, walking around the well while reciting the Lord's Prayer, and then sleeping under the alter using a bible for a pillow (all while holding a cockerel if a man, or a hen if a woman).

Cursing Well

Location: Llanelian-yn-Rhos (Clwyd) - St Ellian's Well (no longer present)
Type: Curse
Date / Time: Late Nineteenth century
Further Comments: Destroyed by the local clergy, the well which once stood here was used to curse one's enemies. The hex could be reversed if the pebble dropped into waters by the giver of the curse could be found and removed from the well.

Healing Eel

Location: Llangybi, near Pwllheli (Gwynedd) - St Cybi's Well
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The sick would dangle their feet into the waters of the well, hoping that the touch of the eel would increase their chances of recovery.

Sir Guy fighting a dragon fighting a lion.

Warty Dragon

Location: Longwitton (Northumberland) - Three wells near village
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This wyrm is said to have found the water from the wells so refreshing he set up home here. The creature was described as having a black tongue, long tail, warty skin, and very sharp claws. It was finally killed by Sir Guy of Warwick.

Vicious Little Folk

Location: Ludgvan (Cornwall) - Well
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The well in the village is reported to be protected by violent fairies, which are also capable of summoning storms.

Healing Well

Location: Madron (Cornwall) - Well (or spring) of St Madron
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: The holy well here is said to have cured the injured and diseased. Dropping pins or pebbles into the water and counting the bubbles which rose enabled time-based divination questions to be answered (one bubble equated to one year). Another legend associated with the location is that of King Arthur, who was told that the waters would burn a man who was not pure of heart. Arthur placed his hand in the water and pulled it out unscathed, but when Mordred tried, his hand was scalded.

Blazing Eyed Dog

Location: Malahide (County Dublin) - Feltrim Hill
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A large black hound with burning red eyes was said to lurk in this area. A phantom grey horse is also reported, as is an old woman laden down with a bundle of faggots, drifting towards the Holy Well.

Drifting Monk

Location: Maltby (South Yorkshire) - Roche Abbey
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1990s
Further Comments: This hooded spook has been seen slowly moving around the ruins of this once proud abbey, as has the shade of a grey lady. The site is also home to a wishing well.

Goose

Location: Melsonby (North Yorkshire) - Berry Well (may no longer exist)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This well was haunted by a ghostly entity which had taken the form of a white goose.

Female Form

Location: Melsonby (North Yorkshire) - Ladywell (aka Lady Well)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The area around here is haunted by a headless woman, whose history is unknown.

Headless Woman

Location: Melsonby (North Yorkshire) - Lanes and church near Lady Well (likely no longer present)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Circa nineteenth century?
Further Comments: A local myth said the well close to the churchyard was haunted by a headless white lady.

Gifts

Location: Minch Moor (Borders) - Cheese Well
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Well still present
Further Comments: The well took its name from the cheese which travellers would leave for the resident fairies.

The Rag Well

Location: Munlochy (Highland) - St Boniface's Well
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: Rags are tied around the well to transfer ill health and bad luck away from the visitor and into the healing waters.

Wishing Well

Location: Newcastle (Gwent) - Well and springs
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This wishing well was used by throwing pins into it, while the waters of the spring would be used to cure joint pain and inflammation.

La Madonna Riposata by Julia Margeret Cameron.

Healing Well

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne (Tyne and Wear) - St Mary's Well, Jesmond
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Well still present, vision in late eleventh century
Further Comments: This well was once said to have magical healing properties, while at an unstated location nearby, an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared just after England was invaded by the Normans.

Jinny

Location: Newchurch in Pendle (Lancashire) - Jinny Lane and nearby Jinny Well
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The headless ghost of Jinny (or Jennet) haunted the lane which took her name.

Future Husband

Location: North Kelsey (Lincolnshire) - The Maiden Well (spring, current operational status not known)
Type: Legend
Date / Time: 24 April (ritual had to be done on St Mark's Eve)
Further Comments: It was possible to see one's future husband by walking backwards up to and around the spring three times before kneeling and gazing into the water.

Wishing Well

Location: Northallerton (North Yorkshire) - St John's Well, near the ruins of priory at Mount Grace (may no longer exist)
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Nineteenth century
Further Comments: Wishes were said to be granted if you stuck a pin into an ivy leaf before casting it into this well.

Spring

Location: Oswestry (Shropshire) - King Oswald's Well
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: This spring was created when the severed arm of King Oswald of Northumberland hit the ground, dropped by an eagle who had taken it from a battlefield. The nearby hillfort was once thought to have belonged to Guinevere's father, though this is now discounted.

Pounding

Location: Oundle (Northamptonshire) - Drumming Well, Drumming Well Lane
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Prior to historical event
Further Comments: This mysterious loud drumming sound has been heard emanating from the well, a prelude to days that shall go down in history - it is documented the beating was heard during the Great Fire of London, the death of Charles II, and the death of Cromwell. The well is currently covered.

White Horse Upright

Location: Oxwich (West Glamorgan) - Churchyard
Type: Other
Date / Time: Early nineteenth century
Further Comments: This ghostly creature walks around on hind legs, ending the jaunt as it vanishes down an ancient well.

Protected Stone

Location: Pelynt (Cornwall) - St Nun's Well
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: A farmer once tried to steal this stone to use on his farm - halfway home with his booty, the chains used to drag the stone snapped, allowing the rock to roll back to its starting location. To further prove a point, the oxen used to move the stone all suddenly died, and the thieving farmer was crippled.