Lady Well

Lady Well is a holy well located in St Mary's Churchyard, Pilton, Barnstaple. It is probably medieval in origin, although the visible structure appears to date from the 17th century and was restored in 1984. The well consists of a small oblong trough of water, which is filled from an unseen source. Above the trough is a stone barrel-vault. The superstructure features a stone rubble wall with some red brick. At the base, there is a semicircular chamfered opening made with dressed stone voussoirs, providing access to the well, which is closed off by a 20th-century grille. Above this opening is a slate plaque set in a chamfered stone frame with a rounded top corner. The plaque is inscribed: 'The Ancient LADYWELL restored Anno Domini MCMLXXXIV. I. KERR. Mason.'

Historically, the well is noted in Theo Brown's 'Holy and Notable Wells of Devon', where it is described as a dripping well, with water diverted from a nearby spring into a sink in the wall. There is little known about its early history.