 St. Winefride's Well (Ffynnon Gwenfrewi) is a holy well located in Holywell, in Flintshire in North Wales. It is the oldest pilgrimage site, continuously operating since the 7th Century, in the U.K.
St. Winefride (called in her native Welsh Gwenfrewi; in modern English Winifred and various variations) was a legendary 7th Century Welsh noblewoman who was canonized after dying for the sake of her chastity. The legend tells how in 660 A.D., an enraged local chieftain severed the head of the young Winefride after she spurned his advances, how a spring rose from the ground at the spot where her head fell, and how she was later restored to life by her uncle, St. Beuno. A healing spring at the site of her death is now a shrine and pilgrimage site, known as the Lourdes of Wales. St. Winefride died ca. 660 A.D. at Gwytherin in Denbighshire
The present remarkable and architecturally unique building, set into a hillside, dates from the late 15th Century.
About St. Winefride's Well (Ffynnon Gwenfrewi)
St. Winefride's Well Website
CADW: St. Winefride's Chapel and Holy Well
Wikipedia: St. Winefride's Well
castlewales.com: St. Winifred's Well
Megalithic Portal: St. Winefrides Well
Wikipedia: Saint Winefride
New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Winefride
Wikipedia: Beuno
New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Beuno
Journey to St. Winefride's Well (Ffynnon Gwenfrewi)
St. Winefride's Well is located in Holywell in northeastern Wales near the border with England.
Ordnance Survey Map (SJ1842076297)
Visitors Information
Visitors information for St. Winefride's Well may be found at the St. Winefride's Well website. General tourist information for the area may be found on the Welcome to Holywell website.
Additional Photos of St. Winefride's Well (Ffynnon Gwenfrewi)
Welcome Sign at St. Winefride's Well
St. Winefride's Well (left) and Pilgrimage Museum (right)
Statue of St. Winefride, St. Winefride's Well
St. Winefride's Well
St. Beuno's Stone in Pool, St. Winefride's Well
Spring Basin, Interior of the Well Crypt, St. Winefride's Well
Ceiling of Well Crypt, St. Winefride's Well
Ceiling of Well Crypt, St. Winefride's Well
Carving of Triskelion Symbol in Ceiling, St. Winefride's Well
Carving in Ceiling, St. Winefride's Well
Sculpture of Pilgrim Being Carried to the Well, St. Winefride's Well
Statue of St. Winefride, St. Winefride's Well
Stained-Glass Window of St. Winefride and St. Beuno, St. Winefride's Well
Wall Sculpture, St. Winefride's Well
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