Hemmingwell

This is a sand spring beside a stream situated in NNW of the estate which now bears its name.

This seems to have been used for tanning since the only other application of the word 'Hemming' is a prepared hide.

Ancient Well

An ancient well was found on the eastern side of Harrowden Road, nearly opposite Bushfield Road, during excavations for ironstone. It was 25 feet deep with a little water in it, and it was lined with local stone. It was 4.5 feet across the bottom, but only 1.5 feet across the top. There were no traces of houses or buildings nearby, but several human skeletons were found.

Harrowden Road Well

This appears to have fed the Harrowden Road Mill race, joining the stream from Sywell Road at the Millpond in Harrowden Road, Kilburn's Mill.

This stream has been diverted from the mill pond, but the weir remains where the stream has enters the culvert under Harrowden Road to join Harrowden Brook at Finedon Road Estate.

Stanwell

One of a number of calciferous wells in the area. This Northampton sand spring flowed into a small pond and thence into a spinney.

This was located in what is now Gleneagles Estate. The name suggests that there were quarries nearby. Before the development of this area a significant archaeological site was discovered. It was hoped that the site would be investigated before the houses were built.

Whytewell

Situated in the north part of the town - the highest part. This well was piped from its source in an orchard at the junction of Harrowden Road and Gold Street into a reservoir. It then flowed into a ditch and from there in to a mill head, and on to a pumping station near the mill. It was then pumped into a service reservoir above the town. The water flowed from this reservoir to Dulley's Brewery in Sheep Street to be used for brewing.

Monks Well

Croyland Abbey's Monks Well was completely different to the other town wells, being a large cistern similar to those found in other spa towns. The well was fed by a spring, but the water was not suitable for drinking.

At one time the well could be seen through an aperture in a wall in the Abbey grounds but,unfortunately, it was built over when the council offices were extended. The well for the house is near the Old Chapel.

St. John’s Well

The hospice of St John stood in St John Street.

It was served by two wells, one of which is marked by a plaque behind a house in Havelock Street, which once formed part of St John Street.

Buckwell

The Buckwell was a very important source of water. The pump on Buckwell Green supplied a good deal of water to the people of Buckwell End. This became a social centre, as was the market pump (also originally fed from Buckwell) at the southern end of the town.

Water from here was piped into the ornamental ponds in Westover House which was in Oxford Street, West Villa Road now being on the site. Some water flowed to a standpipe in Northampton Road and could be used for street watering. All surplus water ran through surface sewers and into Swanspool Brook.

London Well

The exact location of this well is indefinite and it is not known whether it is in the parish of Wellingborough or Great Harrowden.

It was discovered by workman when the Wellingborough to Kettering road was being made. It was a dry well, and after moving five hundredweight of pebbles, they found an entire human skeleton.

Bury Moor

Situated near Northampton Road towards Wilby, this was another well with calcifying properties.

At one time it seems to have irrigated quite a large area of meadowland. The name suggests the area was fenland on the outskirts of the town in which there were Celtic Barrows.

Lady Well

Ladywell was situated in a field called Ladywell Close at the time of the enclosure on Finedon Road.

It may well be that it was originally dedicated to a Roman Deity, especially as Roman silver coins have been found nearby which may have been used as offerings.

Since then, however, the well has been consecrated in the name of Our Lady, following the Christian practice of taking over former pagan sites.

Rising Sun Well

This well faced east, which accounts for the name. It appears to be located where Mill Road crosses the railway.

Water was carried across the railway line and used for drinking at the railway works. This lasted until water became contaminated by the use of creosoted telegraph poles.

The water from this well was sparkling and cold, and was considered to be helpful in the treatment of eye infections.

Wichus or Wychus Well

Probably a salt bearing well, since 'Wich' is used as a suffiz in the name of places where salt in produced. 'Wichus' is considered to be a corruption of 'Wich House', meaning Salt House.

The ramins of the pump for this well can still be seen at the junction of Oxford Street and West Villa Road.

A local resident remember that a long arm was screwed on to the top of the base section and there was a water trough nearby.

Whitchurch Well

This tittle could apply to many wells in an area which was called ‘White Church’. It was only since WWll that the wells were filled in and the cast-iron pumps removed. It would appear that public safety was preferable to the preservation of bygones.

Cross Well

The Cross Well stood by the Market Cross. It seems to have dried up early in the 17th century so it then became necessary to take water first from Buckwell, then, in 1803, from Whitchurch Well. Because of its importance to the town in general, and the market in particular, it was kept going until about 1901.

Sources:

Baish, P, An introduction to Wellingborough

Goddard, JL, (1988) Wellingborough, A brief History of Town and District, produced for the Wellingborough Heritage Centre

Palmer, J&M, A History of Wellingborough

The Wells of Wellingborough was originally one f a series of leaflets produced by Wellingborough and District Council of Churches, in conjunction with the Training Agency, 1989

Leaflet produced by the Wellingborough Museum