Holy Well of St. Anne - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

Holy Well of St. Anne

Reading, England

Once the site of medieval pilgrimage for its healing powers, this well was lost and later rediscovered. 

View all photos
View of the well from across Priest Hill Amy Hoang Anh Johnson (Creative Commons)
View of the well from across Priest Hill Amy Hoang Anh Johnson (Creative Commons)
A close up of the plaque Amy Hoang Anh Johnson (Creative Commons)
A view of the plaque of the well from the side Amy Hoang Anh Johnson (Creative Commons)
2
16
Top Places in Reading
Cole Museum of Zoology
Cole Museum of Zoology
Reading, England
Reading Museum Bayeux Tapestry
Reading, England
Henry West's Grave
Reading, England
 See All

In the quiet suburb of Caversham, once a place of Catholic pilgrimage, is a small well called the Holywell of St Anne. The suburb was an ancient settlement where a chapel dedicated to St. Anne was made. Sadly, the chapel doesn’t exist despite the well still standing. Not much is known about the site, as Henry VIII ended Catholic worship and many religious sites in the area. 

The village’s spiritual life centered on the ancient parish church of St Peter; Augustinian monks from the Nutley monastery cared for the Our Lady’s shrine and would welcome pilgrims. Many would pilgrim to the site, especially the well, for the mineral water since it supposedly has healing properties. However, as mentioned, the shrine and well would be lost to time due to the banishment of Catholic worship.  

Fortunately, the well was discovered in 1906 by the landowners, the Talbots. They preserved the well as a memorial drinking fountain and added a cover to the well in 1908. The well sits on the corner of Priest Hill and St Anne’s Road, and quiet remains as cars pass by. 

Know Before You Go

It is a 26 minute walk from Reading train station. Parking is limited and hard to find in the area. 

healing wells catholic shrines saints water
Nearby
Thames Lido
0.82 miles
Silchester Eagle
0.93 miles
Huntley and Palmers No. 4 Biscuit Collection
0.93 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
Thames Lido.
Reading, England

Thames Lido

Soak up some local history in this restored Edwardian era swimming pool.
Reading, England

Silchester Eagle

Once believed to be a sacred Roman legionary symbol, this bronze figure inspired the 1954 novel 'The Eagle of the Ninth.'
Huntley and Palmers No.4 Biscuit Collection
Reading, England

Huntley and Palmers No. 4 Biscuit Collection

This display showcases the culinary equivalent of steel-toe boots during World War I.
Bayeux Tapestry, Reading Museum.
Reading, England

Reading Museum Bayeux Tapestry

This unique, full-sized copy of the Bayeux Tapestry sports a few modern additions, including underwear.
Related Places
St. Triduana's Chapel
Edinburgh, Scotland

St. Triduana's Chapel

This unusual 15th-century house of worship once catered to those who sought its healing properties.
A stone slab with a plaque surrounded by a garden and fence.
Edinburgh, Scotland

Corstorphine Physic Well

A spring purported to have healing properties lies just outside Scotland's capital.
York, England

Shrine of Saint Margaret Clitherow

A shrine to one of England's female saints in what is believed to be her former home.
St. Ann's Shrine and Grotto
New Orleans, Louisiana

St. Ann's Shrine and Grotto

This city block-long devotional site, a replica of a famous site in France, is dedicated to the patron saint of grandmothers, mothers, and educators.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web