Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Cornwall St Clether Holy Well Chapel

St Clether Holy Well Chapel

A holy well supposedly infused with a saint's spirit flows within this quaint chapel.

Cornwall, England

Added By
Melanie Xulu
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The chapel.   Melanie Xulu / Atlas Obscura User
The chapel.   Melanie Xulu / Atlas Obscura User
The altar in the chapel.   Melanie Xulu / Atlas Obscura User
St. Clether Holy Well Chapel.   Melanie Xulu / Atlas Obscura User
The holy well.   Melanie Xulu / Atlas Obscura User
View of the clootie tree from inside the chapel.   Melanie Xulu / Atlas Obscura User
Signage.   Melanie Xulu / Atlas Obscura User
Portrait of Sabine Baring-Gould, age 35 (1869).   Hall, Wakefield/public domain
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Hidden deep within the Inny Valley and surrounded by wild moorland is the St. Clether Holy Well Chapel, the largest and best-preserved holy well in Cornwall. The site dates back to Celtic times and is named after St. Clederus, one of 24 children of the Welsh St Brychan, King of Brycheiniog.

St. Clederus died in the in the middle of the sixth century and was buried at the hermitage. After his death, the water grew famous for its miraculous healing properties. Supposedly, when the saint’s body was laid to rest by the altar, his corpse infused the water with his spirit. Today, a spring of water from the holy well still burbles under the altar in the well-house and then into the chapel.

Despite its legendary holy well, the chapel eventually fell into disrepair and was rebuilt in the 15th century, creating the chapel that still stands today. Although many similar chapels were destroyed during the Reformation, this one survived, perhaps due to its remote location.

But by the late 19th century, the chapel had fallen into disrepair once again. This time it was rescued by Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould, a famous Victorian archaeologist, antiquarian, folk song collector, hymn writer, scholar, and more. Baring-Gould loved the place dearly, and it is said that the ghostly figure that can sometimes be seen inside the chapel is his.

Today, the chapel maintains hints of its Celtic roots. A clootie tree (wishing tree) stands by the holy well, and ley lines run through the chapel in both directions, through the holy wells and crossing on the altar.

Related Tags

Wells Churches Celtic Water Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

There's parking at the main church. Its free to visit, but donations appreciated.

Community Contributors

Added By

Melanie Xulu

Edited By

Russ Arno

  • Russ Arno

Published

December 26, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.stcletherholywellchapel.com/history
  • https://www.britainexpress.com/counties/cornwall/ancient/st-clether-holy-well-chapel.htm
St Clether Holy Well Chapel
Cornwall, England
United Kingdom
50.633169, -4.543488
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Dozmary Pool

Cornwall, England

miles away

King Arthur's Stone

Cornwall, England

miles away

The Museum of Witchcraft & Magic

Boscastle, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Cornwall

Cornwall

England

Places 20
Stories 7

Nearby Places

Dozmary Pool

Cornwall, England

miles away

King Arthur's Stone

Cornwall, England

miles away

The Museum of Witchcraft & Magic

Boscastle, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Cornwall

Cornwall

England

Places 20
Stories 7

Related Places

  • St Mary’s and All Saints Church, Dunsfold

    Dunsfold, England

    St Mary's and All Saints Church & Holy Well

    An ancient yew tree and holy well nestle beside a remarkable 13th-century church.

  • Lady Well

    Glasgow, Scotland

    Lady Well

    This ancient holy well is older than much of the city that surrounds it.

  • Ruins of the Church of San Vittorino.

    Cittaducale, Italy

    Sunken Church of San Vittorino

    The marshy karst plain has reclaimed this beautiful 17th-century church.

  • The modern chapel.

    Saint Davids, Wales

    St. Non’s Chapel and Well

    The remains of a small medieval chapel mark the legendary birthplace of the patron saint of Wales.

  • Cathedral of the Isles.

    Millport, Scotland

    Cathedral of the Isles

    The United Kingdom's smallest working cathedral also serves as a quaint bed and breakfast.

  • The beautiful view from the hill down to the lake.

    Sevan, Armenia

    Sevanavank

    This ancient monastery complex was transformed from an island to a peninsula when the lake was partially drained.

  • The chapel’s exquisite interior.

    Compton, England

    Watts Cemetery Chapel

    This quaint mortuary chapel hides a stunning Celtic Revival and Art Nouveau interior.

  • The Pozo de Yanayacu in Chachapoyas

    Chachapoyas, Peru

    Pozo de Yanayacu

    This well held a sacred source of water supposedly unleashed from the barren rocks by a wizard-like archbishop.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.