A Chapel and a Well

We were in Newcastle today, as I wanted to catch up with the talks on Alfred, having missed a couple whilst away. The road, on which the building I go to is, is called Pilgrim Street. I have always known that this was supposed to be because pilgrims gathered and were accommodated here before setting out on pilgrimage, but I have never known just where these pilgrims were heading. Now I know.

Jesus Mound (later St Mary’s Chapel, Jesmond)
 
The legend is that, sometime after the Norman Conquest, an apparition of the Virgin Mary with Jesus appeared at what is now known as Mary’s Rock in Jesmond Dene, just outside Newcastle City Centre. News of this spread, Jesmond’s reputation as a holy shrine grew and soon attracted pilgrims from all over the country. In the 12th Century St Mary’s Chapel was built (to be enlarged in the 14th Century). More and more pilgrimages took place; at one time it was the third most visited pilgrimage site in the country. Hard to imagine this all happening in what is now an area of lots of housing, some quite upmarket – a popular place to live.

All that remains of the Chapel now are these ruins of what was a side chapel with the arch that joined the side chapel to the main church. It is in a lovely spot (much better I assume on a less gloomy winter day!) and is obviously still visited for prayer and contemplation. There are flowers and little statues in the nooks and crannies.
 
And . . .
. . . there is a Holy Well – St Mary’s Well (see extra).
 
It is actually not by the chapel; we found it across the road, up a path and down some steps in a little wooded area between houses. Traditionally it is regarded as a holy well with healing properties, although it has since been dated as being 17th Century - the bathing area was added in the 18th Century.
  
It was incredibly difficult to photograph, as it was so dark in this little wooded area. A better picture might have been possible if I had scrambled up the muddy slope on the right hand side – I was not doing that!! You can see where the water emerges and the cup for drinking. There is also a little shrine with figures above it. The rest is the bathing area. (I decided in the end to blip the chapel – such a lovely place.)

An entry for Holy Well Month.