Elen’s Well – Ffynnon Sant Gwyddelan . . .
Elen’s Well, fed by an underground spring, is situated behind Elen’s Castle Hotel. Accessed by the footpath to the left of the hotels garden.
Its waters were considered beneficial, especially for paralysed limbs and to strengthen weak children. It is also reputed that Roman legionaries partook of its waters. Offerings were placed in the niche that can be seen in the back wall. The track that passes the well was one of the original roads to the village. In frosty weather it is said that steam can be seen rising above the well.
Renowned local artist, Falcon Hildred, created the artwork on the display boards. They depict Saint Gwyddelan by the well, in the early part of the last millennium, after the departure of the Romans.
The spring in 1999 – “Today, the hotel's proprietor, Frank Ratcliffe, uses the old well to water his garden but is sometimes persuaded to draw off a tankard of the water for visitors - it is deliciously sweet and clear with a peaty fragrance.”
In 2015, Mentor Siabod successfully applied for a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Wales, for an archaeological dig and reconstruction of the well. Snowdonia National Park also helped with funding.
Bill Jones, Chair of the Dolwyddelan Historical Society and noted archiologist managed the whole project, in conjunction with the Welsh Well Society.
The excavation revealed over a hundred shards of pottery including Midlands Purple Ware dating back to the 17th century, Mottled Ware dating back to the 18th century, showing how ceramics were bought from some distance and then traded locally.
Also found were three pieces of lead and pewter which are as yet unidentified and are with Cardiff University for further investigation. Each stone has been marked archaeologically before it has been put back into position.
Blessing the well after reconstruction, May 2015
From the History of Dolwyddelan
by Evan Thomas
Published in ‘Y Brython’ 1861
There was a famous old well in this parish, called by some Ffynnon Elen, and by others Ffynnon Gwyddelan. It is still to be found, but it is in ruins now, on the side of Pentre Felin [This was before Elen’s Castle was built] The well’s walls measured twelve feet long, by nine feet wide, with a walkway about half a yard wide within the outer wall, around the water's edge. The source of the water is in the upper part of the well from the rise of the land and there is a channel in its lower chamber to let the water run completely out until it is emptied. When its service was needed, it is necessary to put a plug in the opening to collect the water. It is said that it was held in great renown and esteem in ancient times. The virtue that was mainly attributed to it, was to strengthen weak children and to restore strength to the limbs of those who had become lame. There are several alive at present, who remember bringing someone to the well for immersion and who will confirm the above testimony. Whether there is any real virtue in the water or not, no one can say now, it would be beneficial to look into that. However, it is relegated to a very unkempt and precarious state now and it will soon have nothing to show for itself unless it is repaired with haste.
Sadly, since handing back to the landowners, the well has again returned to nature. BEWARE if you attempt to reach it, there are several deep ditches and runnels
hidden amongst the undergrowth.