Our Ladys Well (Within Field Aprroximately 350 Metres West Of Road

GLOUCESTER

SO8318NW ST SWITHUN'S ROAD, Hempsted 844-1/3/454 (West side (off)) 10/01/55 Our Lady's Well (within field approx 350m west of road) (Formerly Listed as: Our Lady's Well (off St Swithun's Road Hempstead))

I

Well house and adjoining water trough. Well house built for the Manor of Hempsted in late C14, held by the former Augustinian Priory of Llanthony Secunda, Llanthony Road (qv), the trough probably added in C18 or C19. Well house of ashlar with gabled roof of dressed limestone slabs, trough defined by dressed stone kerb walls. The well house a small, square building above a natural spring with entry to chamber on the east side, the rectangular water trough for stock at low level on the east side extending to north. EXTERIOR: original ground level now eroded exposing the well house foundation of squared rubble in courses; above the foundation a lower chamfered offset plinth of one course and an upper chamfered offset plinth of two courses; in the east gable-end wall slightly to right a small doorway, its threshold lowered by the removal of part of the top course of the upper plinth, and with a continuous hollow chamfer to the jambs and the ogee arch cut in the lintel block, in the east gable a small vent slit; the other walls plain; both gables crowned by hipknobs carved with trefoils on the outer faces and may have supported finials; roof slabs with interlocking rebated edges; within a central recess cut into the west gable a badly weathered relief of three figures reputed to represent St Mary standing between St Anne and an angel. INTERIOR: a small, square chamber with water inlet at low level. A substantially complete, rare and important surviving example of a medieval well house. Gloucester has a number of other important structures associated with medieval water supply (qqv Reservoir Road and Cathedral Precincts), of which this is most 'architectural' in its conception. Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Listing NGR: SO8144917321