Dupath Well

SX 36 NE CALLINGTON

8/2 Dupath Well

21.7.51 I

Holy Well House and chapel dedicated to St. Ethelred. Probably built in 1510 by the Canons of St. Germans. Restored by Rev H.M. Rice, former rector of South Hill. Built entirely of granite ashlar. Rectangular in plan. Small, single storey, single cell building with gabled ends to liturgical east and west. Entrance in west gable end. Rectangular surround to door with roll mould to outer arch and hollow chamfer to segmental inner arch. Plain spandrels. C20 timber plank door with strap hinges. East gable end with 2-light granite mullion window. Cavetto moulds to jambs and arch. Holes for stanchion bars. Granite rectangular slits in north west and south east walls. Roof comprising of long blocks of granite stone supported in centre by diaphragm arch. Crocketted pinnacles at 4 corners possibly later addition. Further crocketted pinnacle in north east end on gable. Turret on south west end in gable. Moulded granite base with battered slab side supporting a moulded cap decorated with a rope band, battlemented cornice and surmounted by 4 crocketted finials and a central crocketted pinnacle. Simple interior with stone arch on rectangular stone responds and plain cube capitals supporting span and junction of granite roof members. Heavily restored. Water runs through building, entering from under threshold on west, flowing along stone runnel into shallow rectangular trough. Then leaves through hole in east wall and falls into stone basin positioned outside. Wellhouse probably once contained altar. Building probably associated with chapel licensed by Bishop Stafford in 1405, dedicated to St. Ethelred. In 1432, the Canons of St. Germans acquired property at Callington including 'Theu Path'. Reputed to be on site of duel fought between poor knight Colan and the rich man Gottlieb for the hand of a maiden. A Lane-Davies Holy Wells of Cornwall rp 1970 J Meyrick A pilgrims guide to the Holy Wells of Cornwall 1982 National Gazetteer (1868) I, 454.

Listing NGR: SX3750669203