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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

#31DaysOfGraves -7 - Home. This in my local churchyard. The grave of former residents of my own home in Cheshire. In the 1860s farmer Abraham White named two of his sons Abraham Lincoln White and William Gladstone White

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

#31DaysOfGraves day 5 - vehicle. The winged car tyre grave of Beatrice Blore-Browne in Llandudno, who in July 1914 became the first woman to drive a car up the Great Orme as reported in the Flintshire Observer, though I'm now a little more curious about the perils of playing draughts in Harringay

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Arrived this morning, a follow up to Kathryn Hurlock's most interesting and readable study of Medieval pilgrimage in Wales, this new account of the history of Ffynnon Wenffrewi, At Winefride's well. Looks good.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Caught snooping around the garden this morning

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Down the lane this morning - a family of cinnabar moth caterpillars feasting on the ragwort

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

When even The Guardian mixes up 'have' and 'of' then all hope is lost

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

sorting through boxes of old photos this afternoon & found this fabulous picture of my mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. The eldest - Rebecca - was born in 1841.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Historic records suggest there was a Ffynnon Fair, St Mary's Well at Nannerch, Flints, associated with the parish church dedicated to Mary. The location of the well seems to be lost - but Ffynnon Sarah is a strong spring, connected by footpath to the church. Surely a candidate for the lost Ff Fair

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

First hedgehog of the year caught snooping around the garden last night

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Walking the route of the old railway track that ran to Holywell, Flintshire. This is the location of At Winefride's Halt - the station that served the well

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

The Millennium Cross on the site of the old Capel St Ffraid - Trearddur Bay. St Brigid's Cross at its centre. Sunny but wild with storm Bram this afternoon.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Strange times - I don't ever remember seeing this rhododendron flowering in December before. West Cheshire.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Escaping a cold house to the glorious warm quite of Gladstone's Library, Hawarden to write up my talk on the wells of Ynys Cybi today.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

Preparing to talk about about the traditions of the wells of Ynys Cybi / Holy Island in Holyhead next month

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

A little medieval character I found lurking in St Mary's church Nercwys yesterday

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Visiting the fascinating colourful Hundertwasser Haus in Vienna this afternoon

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 24/08/2025

At the Silver Well, a petrifying well, in West Cheshire this morning

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 24/08/2025

Gorgeous morning walking along the River Weaver in West Cheshire this morning in search of the Silver Well, a petrifying well near Kingsley.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Ffynnon Gorad This well lies on the Anglesey Coastal Path to the north of Valley. Local belief is that it was once associated with a local small monastic settlement connected to the monastery at Holyhead. More recently it was been used as a local water supply.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Ffynnon Sadwrn / Ddu (both have been used) is close to St Mary's Church Llanfair PG Anglesey. Once a copious spring feeding a duck pond, it was destroyed in the 1840s during the building of the new railway. now only a small stone chamber covered by a grill remains, though water still flows.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

At the beautiful St Peulan's church Llanbeulan this afternoon with @friendlesschurches.bsky.social and @angleseyhistory.bsky.social

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

Ffynnon Ddoged, St Doged's well at Llanddoged, Conwy. Subject of a late 15th century ode claiming the well had healing powers but now covered by stone and locked tight shut

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Visiting St Faglan's church Llanfaglan Caernarfon. One of the gems and my favourite of the Friends of Friendless Churches holdings. #FoFC

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Walking round Llanbeblig church Caernarfon this morning. Seeing the sorry overgrown state of the churchyard

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

At Ffynnon y Wrach - the witch's well - this morning for an Open Doors event. Looking forward to discussing the history of the well

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

St Patrick's cave and well, Ffynnon ac Ogof Badrig. Llanbadrig, Ynys Mon.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

St Helen's Well, Ffynnon Elen, Caernarfon. Supposedly named for Elen Luyddog, wife of Magnus Maximus. Naturalist John Ray visited Caernarfon in 1662 & recorded seeing Elen's chapel and well. It's possible the original well was closed in the mid C19 and the name was transferred to this nearby well.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Naturalist John Ray's somewhat sceptical view of St. Winefride's well at Holywell, from his visit in 1658. "The poor and the lame visit the well more to beg and receive alms than to benefit from the use of its waters."

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Back to Ffynnon y Wrach, Holyhead on March 21st. Open Doors event.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Handout from St Tudwen's church Llandudwen Gwynedd ca 2012 following the restoration of the holy well. These days it is overgrown and hard to find. Restorations need to be a continuous process.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Just framed my favourite souvenir from Istanbul visit - picture detail taken from larger Rorbye painting Turkish Notary Drawing up a Marriage Contract

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

St Tudwen's Well, Llandudwen, Gwynedd. seen here in better days - I think it has become much more overgrown and inaccessible recently.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Ffynnon Estyn, Ynys Mon gained a reputation as a cursing well in the late eighteenth century. Pennies that had been used to close the eyes of a corpse were thrown into the well as offerings to enact a curse. Local people refused to drink water from the well as a consequence of its reputation.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

Thrilled to have won the chance to give this Mari a new home. Thanks to @skullsandsheets.bsky.social and another successful Mari Lwyd auction supporting domestic violence charities. Diolch yn fawr

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

The evils that a comet can be held responsible for.... Edward Lhuyd in his Parochialia quoting from Gabriel Hughes - vicar of Gwyddelwern, 1652

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

This Wednesday, in Holyhead, should be an interesting talk on the recording local place names project by Rhian Parry, author of the excellent Cerdded y Caeau place name study.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

At ffynnon Issui, Patrishow, Powys "..to which was formerly attributed great Virtue."

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

Ffynnon Fair, St Mary's Well, near St Asaph. A sketch made by poet Felicia Hemans, most probably during the 1820s.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Ffynnon Angoeron at Goetre Fawr, near Pontypool. Also known as the freezing or very cold well. Known as a wishing well in the late nineteenth century and when cleaned in 1890 bent pins, coins and buttons were found. Picture: Cardiff Naturalists' Society Transactions, 1903.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Angel this morning from St Rhedyw's Church, Llanllyfni, Gwynedd

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

A wishing well. The well at Penmon, Ynys Mon has variously been known as Ffynnon Seiriol, St Seiriol's Well and Ffynnon Fair, St Mary's Well. In the late nineteenth century it was widely known as a wishing well, the process to gain a wish being:

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Saints Catherine, Theresa, Catherine and Gertrude St David's Church, Pantasaph, Flintshire Harry Clarke Studio 1932/33

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Just received the new @helleborezine.bsky.social . As well as being a consistently fascinating read it is always so beautifully illustrated. This one is certainly no exception! @mjpcuervo.bsky.social #hellebore

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

A Ladi Wen is a Welsh spirit appearing in the form of an often sorrowful lady dressed in white Pont Ladi Wen is an unassuming little bridge taking a small stream under a road full of speeding traffic just outside Y Felinheli, Bangor. I can't find a story but its name suggests it has one to tell.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

In Anglesey the witches held their revels near the druidical stones and beside the Roman watch tower on Pen Caer Gybi, Holy Island Marie Trevelyan Folklore & Folk Stories of Wales Ffynnon y Wrach - the Witch's Well - Holyhead mountain. Converted to supply water to Holyhead in 1866 #witchywednesday

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

The ruined grade 2 listed bath house at Coed Du, Rhydymwyn, Flintshire, such a sorry sight these days, a great shame it can't be restored.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Ffynnon Ddôl near Abergele was reported by Edward Lhuyd's correspondent in 1690 as being believed to be bottomless. A story recorded in the mid C19 said that a young man was once ploughing nearby when his horse spooked dragging both plough and ploughman into the pool, none were seen again.

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Today's angel lives in the Llanelian Road cemetary, Colwyn Bay

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Sundays in late July were celebrated in the early C18 in a riotous manner at a well near Capel Lochwyd on Holyhead Mountain. This was ended by a zealous curate Thomas Ellis about 1750. He also banned similar events at two other wells: Gorlles & Gromlech. Holyhead was clearly a fun place back then!

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Ian Taylor @wellhopper.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

At Ffynnon Elian, Llanelian-yn-Rhos, Conwy. The notorious 'cursing well' known across Britain in the early 19th century through sensational newspaper articles following two trials in 1818 and 1831 of unscrupulous well guardians profiting from the fear of having been 'placed in the well'

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