Sterne'S Well, Circa 100 Metres South West Of Back Lane Farmhouse

Sterne's Well, located approximately 100 meters south-west of Back Lane Farmhouse, is a well head housing for an artesian well that supplied water to Skelton Castle. It dates from the late 18th century and features sandstone ashlar walls and a roof. The structure is a squat tower about 3 meters high, with chamfered rustication on three faces. The west face has a round-headed opening that is now blocked internally but still retains a boarded door. Below the square-domed roof, there is a plain, slightly-recessed band with three paterae that have beaded surrounds and bear Latin inscriptions. Above the doorway, a rectangular plaque features an inscribed verse, likely by Lawrence Sterne: "Leap from thy mossy cavern'd bed Hither thy prattling waters bring Blandusia's Muse shall crown thy head and make thee too a sacred spring."