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All the United Kingdom England St. Neot Holy Well
AO Edited

St. Neot Holy Well

In the 9th-century this small spring-fed well became the location of daily mealtime miracles for one Saxon monk.

St Neot, England

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St. Neot Holy Well   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
St. Neot Holy Well   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
St. Neot Holy Well   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
St. Neot Holy Well   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
St. Neot Holy Well   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
St. Neot Holy Well   AdOYo / Atlas Obscura User
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About

St Neot, was a Saxon monk that settled in the Cornish village of Hamstoke (later named after him), in hopes of an isolated life of prayer. According to legend, approving of Neot’s devotion to the faith, God sent an angel to the solitary saint to share that, to support Neot’s isolated existence, God would provide for his needs. The angel informed Neot that he could find three fish at all times within the local well.

Neot was told that each day, one of these three fish was his to eat, and if only one fish was taken daily, their number would never decrease.

This went swimmingly until one unfortunate day, St Neot became ill and was forced to rely on his servant, Barius. A well-meaning, though thoughtless servant, Barius took a double serving of fish from the well to assist in his master's recovery, thereby breaching the piscine promise. 

Upon discovering the breach of the agreement, Neot prayed for God's mercy and returned the fish to the well where they were restored to life, thereby restoring the miraculous three.

Though now fishless, the well of the Patron Saint of Fish is said to cure illnesses within children. Still accessible since Neot’s death, the well is situated within a grassy mound just a short walk along the River Loveney from the village church, where a stained glass retells the legend.

Restored in 1852, then further in 2009, an archaic bolted wooden door welcomes pilgrims and those with a careful curiosity to enter the small, cool space to view the now fishless water. It's now filled with coins holding wishes and other offerings, as well as some rather large spiders.

Related Tags

Holy Wells Wells Legends Miracles History & Culture

Know Before You Go

There is parking on the road through the village. The path to the well is signposted and is also marked as a dead end. 

Walk down the tarmac path for 250 yards, crossing over a cattle grid. The well is clearly visible on the right. 

To get close to the well requires traversing a short stretch of boggy ground which may be underwater after heavy rain. 

Community Contributors

Added By

AdOYo

Edited By

akohler726, jooniur

  • akohler726
  • jooniur

Published

October 6, 2021

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Sources
  • Information Sign, St Neot, Cornwall, “SAINT NEOT HOLY WELL” (Last Seen: August 2021)
  • Thompson, E. V. (1984). 100 Years on Bodmin Moor. St Teath: Bossiney Books. ISBN 0-906456-90-8.
  • https://megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=8176
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Neot,_Cornwall
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Neot_(monk)
St. Neot Holy Well
2 Tavern Terrace
St Neot, England, PL14 6NB
United Kingdom
50.483563, -4.561563
Get Directions

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St Neot, England

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,219
Stories 145

Nearby Places

Carnglaze Caverns

St Neot, England

miles away

Reverend Densham’s Paint Patch

Warleggan, England

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Dobwalls Bypass Bat Bridge

Cornwall, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,219
Stories 145

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