Percy's or St. James' Well, Wooperton (Hedgeley)
St James, Wooperton, Class A (Named Wells).
A spring of water, that issues not far from Percy's Cross, is still called Percy's well, at which the Chieftain is said to have drunk in the heat of the battle (Hedgeley Moor 1464). It has been denied that the well is so called, and the local name for it is said to be St James's well. There was a medieval chapel at Wooperton, the dedication of which is unknown. Perhaps St James's well was a sacred well called after the saint of the chapel even before the battle. (1)
NU 0539 1920. Local enquiries revealed that the only spring in the vicinity of Pery's Cross is that 95 metres south of it. The spring now has a modern brick surround. (2)
Condition unchanged. (3)
A spring of water, 95m south of Percy's cross, which has been traditionally associated with the Battle of Hedgeley Moor; Ralph Percy is supposed to have drunk from the spring in the heat of battle. Also called St James' well, derivation unknown. The well now has a brick surround
The site is fenced off to protect grazing animals and it has become overgrown. A corrugated sheet lies over the top of the well, obscuring it from view. There is no public access. If the association of this well with the battle of Hedgeley is correct, then it would be an interesting feature along with the cross and the interpretation sit further north. Grant aid to restore the well may not be possible if the public access is not permitted and if further research is not carried out to date the site. Public access could be considered if further research indicates that the site does form part of the battlefield site. This could best be achieved by examining map evidence in the records office. If sufficient evidence can be obtained to associate this site with the battle, grant aid could be sought through the Rural Action Committee and the County Council. The research could be carried out by members of a local history group and additional help could be obtained from the Countryside Comission Stewardship scheme using the historic landscapes category. Liason with English Heritage could also be valuable as they may have information used to create the battlefields register. (4)
A spring of water, that issues not far from Percy's Cross, is still called Percy's well, at which the Chieftain is said to have drunk in the heat of the battle (Hedgeley Moor 1464). It has been denied that the well is so called, and the local name for it is said to be St James's well. There was a medieval chapel at Wooperton, the dedication of which is unknown. Perhaps St James's well was a sacred well called after the saint of the chapel even before the battle. (1)
NU 0539 1920. Local enquiries revealed that the only spring in the vicinity of Pery's Cross is that 95 metres south of it. The spring now has a modern brick surround. (2)
Condition unchanged. (3)
A spring of water, 95m south of Percy's cross, which has been traditionally associated with the Battle of Hedgeley Moor; Ralph Percy is supposed to have drunk from the spring in the heat of battle. Also called St James' well, derivation unknown. The well now has a brick surround
The site is fenced off to protect grazing animals and it has become overgrown. A corrugated sheet lies over the top of the well, obscuring it from view. There is no public access. If the association of this well with the battle of Hedgeley is correct, then it would be an interesting feature along with the cross and the interpretation sit further north. Grant aid to restore the well may not be possible if the public access is not permitted and if further research is not carried out to date the site. Public access could be considered if further research indicates that the site does form part of the battlefield site. This could best be achieved by examining map evidence in the records office. If sufficient evidence can be obtained to associate this site with the battle, grant aid could be sought through the Rural Action Committee and the County Council. The research could be carried out by members of a local history group and additional help could be obtained from the Countryside Comission Stewardship scheme using the historic landscapes category. Liason with English Heritage could also be valuable as they may have information used to create the battlefields register. (4)
N3143
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1957; D A Davies
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; R W Emsley
FIELD OBSERVATION, Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigation 1970; R W Emsley
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