St Cuby'S Well

SX 25 NW DULOE DULOE

3/3 St Cuby's Well 21-8-64 II

Wellhouse for holy well dedicated to St Cuby. Probably C15 with outer structure altered and partly rebuilt when the road, now the B 3254 was constructed nearby in 1822. Restored by Rector Dr Barrington Ward. Granite ashlar outer cell with gabled end and roof constructed of large blocks of granite. Leads to inner wellhouse, built into side of bank over field spring. Stone rubble. Gabled front of large rusticated granite blocke with alisee patee cross in apex. Round-headed arched entrance. Interior Outer cell with stone bench on left. Round-headed arch to inner well house room which has corbelled walls and a flate stone roof. The water from the field spring trickled down the side of the walls and into a small basin. Steps lead down to the basin and the water then flows out through a tunnel into the stream below. The inner cell or chapel is believed to have contained the circular basin or font now placed in the parish church. (qv Church of St Cuby, Duloe). The font, decorated with griffins and possibly a dophin may pre-date the wellhouse and may have been used for pagan ritual. Local legend forewarned dire misfortunes to anyone who tried to move the basin it tells of a team of oxen who were sent for this purpose, and of one died. The basin was then believed to have been rolled down the hill by a drunken workman finally resting outside the cottage of an old lady who apparently heard piskeys laugh over it all night. When, in 1863 the squire sought to move it to Trenant, he was forced to pledge pensions for any who fell down during the operation. Finally the basin was moved to the church. Lane-Davies, A Holy Wells of Cornwall rp 1970. Meyrick, J A Pilgrims Guide to the Holy Wells of Cornwall 1982.

Listing NGR: SX2407757974