St Edward'S Well

MAUGERSBURY SP 12 SE 6/153 St. Edward's Well II Grotto forming back drop to St. Edward's Well. c1800. Cyclopean limestone. Formed feature within a pleasure garden known as The Retreat, created c1800 in connection with an attempt to popularize Stow as a resort. The spring known variously as Holy Well and St. Edward's Well in 1766, was reputedly beneficial to weak eyes. Beside was a pair of cottages, intended for the sale of refreshments. The southern cottage was Gothic the other classical, with stuccoed walls, Venetian window and pedimented gable end, now both in ruins. Below lay a lake with curving retaining walls and foot bridges. Cottages and retaining walls of lake not of listable quality. The Retreat was part of the glebe. (V.C. H. Glos. Vol. VI (1965) p 147, and Horde 11, Cheltenham Spa.)

Listing NGR: SP1904124539