River Seaton Valley Well

We were out for an evening explore up the River Seaton Valley in SE Cornwall, when I noticed a well marked on the OS map. As we were going that way and the well was not near any habitation we decided to check it out, as it was unlikely to be a village water supply. It wasn't even shown on the map I use as a reference point for wells and holy wells compiled by Andy Norfolk.

We could see the location marked on the map but in July the vegetation is high and obscuring visibility. We thought we’d found it when pushing back nettles revealed a small pool and running water but on pressing  further in it proved to be a stream. We tramped on getting a little unsure we’d find it. But when we run out of ideas, we pray and we were both praying separately when my instantly my husband yelled, ‘I’ve found it!’ And he had.

Hidden behind a bank of nettles was a clear well structure with water. Nothing much to see or get excited about in the natural. I had no idea what this well was about but it looked old. It wasn’t on any obvious Holy Well location. There were no flat areas for a hermitage, yet I was puzzled why anyone would build a well in such close proximity to the river, just a few steps away. So we asked the Holy Spirit if He had anything to say.

Initially it was a bit disconcerting as a water spirit showed up but I bound it in Jesus’ name and then sensed the Holy Spirit’s presence. So we worshipped. I found myself singing two old songs that I sang in my youth.

‘Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me’ and ‘Into your hands I commit again all that I am’.

It was so easy to worship and then warm air started circulating around me. This can indicate God’s presence. In my spirit I hear ‘Welcome child of the living God’. I was so surprised. I suppose I wasn't really expecting this. Simultaneously, I can now sense an angel but most of all the Holy Spirit. I join my prayers with those prayed by others,  in this spot previously, calling out for the wells of salvation in Cornwall to spring up again with many salvations.

I will probably never know why the well is there or the story behind it but God knows and He blew us there to find it. What an adventure!