After their unexpected diversion to the lower reaches the Medway the Pilgrimage resumes in Essex. One can perhaps envisage out hypothetical medieval alter ego taking a boat from the Medway or perhaps from King Edward III’s new development of Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey, across the Thames to the Essex shore, landing maybe in Prittlewell.
The first object of the Pilgrimage is Our Lady’s Well at Runwell which is a few miles inland and due south of Chelmsford. This has been claimed as the only holy well in Essex
My source for this is a post from The Northern Antiquarian which can be seen at Our Lady’s Well, Runwell, Essex
That article seems to assemble such evidence as there is, and of which the quotation from the parish registers in 1602 to the Shrine of the Bl. Virgin of Runnyngewelle appears the most striking.
There is some more information on The Megalithic Portal at The Running Well
The Essex Field Club has a brief account, giving the first date of a record of its existence as 1768, at Geology Site Account: Running Well
It might be significant, but then again might not , that the parish church is also dedicated to St Mary
The church of St Mary Runwell
Image: Wickford and Runwell parish
May Our Lady of Runwell intercede for us and our intentions
Jesu mercy, Mary pray
No comments:
Post a Comment