St Kenelm's Well

A Holy Well used by medieval Pilgrim's to stop off and take refreshments before going on to see St Kenelm's relics at Winchecombe. It's a natural spring with healing powers. It is now housed in a 16 th century building with a Victorian statue of the boy Saint above its doors. According to legend St Kenelm was the son of King Cyneulf of Mercia, at the Kings passing, Kenelm's treacherous sister ordered Kenelm's murder by having him beheaded by her lover in the forest. A white dove emerged from his decapitated neck wound and flew to the Pope with a message in old English accusing Quenfrith of murder. The Pope a sent a delegation of English priests and eventually monks from Winchcombe found the body. After a dispute with monks from Worcester (who wanted a share in the relics) the Winchcombe monks rested here at the well, and where they rested a spring appeared. Apparently when Quenfrith heard the news of the divine discovery of her brothers murder her eyeballs popped from her sockets onto her psalter! Kenelm's well is a short walk from Sudeley Hill Road, follow Kenelm's drive then walk through fields and lightening blasted trees till you reach another field. There you will find the place of rest where you can drink the healing waters of Kenelm's Well.