Menacuddle: Chapel, Holy Well and White Waterfall

It was a damp, cold day but I felt drawn to visit Menacuddle, St.Austell, with it's small chapel and holy well. It's quite a magical place - well I think so.

The small waterfall, with its white colour always fascinates me. 

The white colour is from the local china clay deposits.

On my visit all was peaceful, I was the only person in the area.

Here we are, below, at the chapel and holy well. A few ribbons remain left by visitors, though the weather has taken its toll. The chapel was built in the 15th century and is aligned east west - with the east wall built into  the  natural rock wall.

The chapel is 11 feet long and 9 feet wide.

The Holy spring water was once held in high regard for its curative powers. Sick children were regularly bathed here and the Victorians  recommended the drinking of its salubrious fluid. I wouldn't recommend drinking the water nowadays though!

There is only one concern about Menacuddle, it is said to be renowned for having a supernatural presence - including a terrifying black beast!

In 2016 an Express newspaper had a headline which stated: 

"The grisley remains of a centuries old corpse has been discovered in a creepy British woodland - which locals believe is haunted ."

I have to say that, personally, I have never felt uneasy when visiting Menacuddle - the opposite in fact I find it peaceful and uplifting.

I like to walk the paths. There are also a few seats to sit for awhile.

To finish on, above, is a very old bridge and below a granite chair known as the Druids Chair. It is also sometimes called King Arthur's seat.

On the way into Menacuddle you may notice the Brake Manor, as above.

To visit Menacuddle leave the town of Austell  via the B3274. You will pass  the building as shown above, and go  under a bridge. Shortly after this you will see a sign on the left to Menacuddle. It is very easy to miss this, so slow down!

That's all for today, thanks for visiting my blog.

~ Mike.

THE MYSTERIOUS MENACUDDLE CHAPEL & HOLY WELL

It was a dull, damp day but I decided to walk to Menacuddle, where there is a small chapel and  holy well. When I arrived at my destination all was quiet, with no one else about - perfect!

I snapped a few quick photos as I walked. The White River and the waterfall always fascinate me. The whiteness comes from the local china clay.

Looking back over the waterfall, to the right of the next photo, a chair can be seen. This is full size and is made of granite. It is known as the Druids Chair and sometimes even as King Arthur's seat.

The next two photos show the small 'chapel'. Visitors have left flowers.

The Chapel dates back to the 15th century and is now a Grade II listed building.  It is aligned east-west with the east wall built against the natural rock face. 

I followed the White River, there was a dampness in the air.

Water ahead but ...

... be careful as the water can be quite deep.

I took a different route on the way back but the river came with me.

Green topped water.

As the rain was determined to continue I was soon looking down on the waterfall once more.

The old bridge on the way out of Menacuddle.

Below is a newish part of Menacuddle, quite pleasant but a little too neat and organised for my taste. 

The rain started getting heavier so I made my way homeward bound.

As I walked I did stop when there were glimpses of the White River making it's way to the sea.

Thanks for popping in to visit my Blog. All good wishes ~ Mike.

Cornwall's Menacuddle Holy Well and Chapel Plus a Strange Story

I have previously published posts about Menacuddle, with its Holy Well and Georgian Chapel, but I make no apologies for publishing a further post. The area is a bit special. Not just the well but also the river and gardens, which alter throughout the seasons. There is definitely a touch of magic and mystery in the air.

The photos are my own, but let's go back to the 1800's. This is how the well was then described:

About half a mile from St. Austell there is an enclosed well of remarkably pure water known as Menacuddle Well i.e. maen-a-coed, the hawk's stone; and also the remains of its little chapel of bapistry.

The chapel is 11 feet long, 9 feet wide. There are north and south doorways. The spring rises on the east side and the basin is divided by a stone bar.

It's romantic situation moved visitors more than any idea 0f the water.

The well is also a wishing well. It lies at the foot of Menacuddle Grove, surrounded with romantic scenery and covered with an ancient Gothic Chapel.

The virtues of these waters are very extraordinary, but the advantages to be derived from them are rather attributed to the sanctity of the fountain than to the excellence of its stream.

Weak children have frequently been carried here to be bathed; ulcers have also been bathed here. 

People in a season of sickness have been recommended by neighbouring matrons to drink this salubrious fluid. In most cases instances may be procured of benefits received from the application.

Kindly note, I would not recommend drinking the water ~ Mike.

While I was doing some research I came across a completely different side to Menacuddle :

"Menacuddle Well woods, in St Austell, Cornwall, are renowned for having a supernatural presence - including a terrifying black beast."

Gulp! I'd never heard this before. Surely it can't be true.

From more research I found the following beast story, which seems to have come to light in 2016.  An Express headline stated: 

The grisley remains of a centuries old corpse has been discovered in a creepy British woodland - which locals believe is haunted by a huge black beast!

A local councillor is quoted as saying, "Be careful. I have seen it. It's not a dog or a cat."

Think that deserves another gulp!

The story is that the corpse is probably about 300 years old. Back then people were sometimes buried in slate coffins - this is in the 1700s and 1800s.

A local councillor explained how it is believed that the coffin was left near the well, by the grieving family members, who hoped the well's powers would restore him to life.

All in all an interesting story, what with the supposed beast and the skull - but I have always felt quite happy to wander by the well and through the Menacuddle gardens. 

Mind you, though, I remember seeing something black and beast like ... okay, okay it was only my son's black cat.

Thanks for visiting my blog, have a good week ~ Mike.

Here are three more of my Menacuddle Posts:

(1) The Secretive Menacuddle Holy Well and Chapel, Cornwall

(2) The Peaceful Holy Well and Chapel at Menacuddle Cornwall

(3) The Menacuddle Holy Well, Chapel and the White River in Cornwall

The Peaceful Holy Well and Chapel at Menacuddle Cornwall

Today it's Menacuddle with its Holy Well and small chapel. I have previously covered this in an older post - see The Secretive Menacuddle Holy Well and Chapel, Cornwall - but its appearance changes with the seasons.

It's now rhododendron time so lots of red and pink flowers. 

And a few yellow flowers as well.

I like wandering around the area, especially when there is no one else about, which mostly seems to be the case on the occasions I have visited. It seems to be off the tourist trail.

There is a small lake, though it has a green topping at the moment.

It's very pleasant to sit and just enjoy. A while back I brought one of my wife's German relations here and she was fascinated by the Holy Well. She filled a large bottle with the water to take back to Germany. She now looks twenty years younger - okay, I lied about the last bit!

As I have written previously the Holy spring water was once held in high regard for its curative powers. Sick children were regularly bathed here and the Victorians recommended the drinking of its salubrious fluid. It was also used to treat ulcers. 

Anyway, I wandered back through the gardens.

There's a picnic area, all on it's lonesome.

The small chapel below is where the holy well lives.

Here's a better photo of the small chapel I snapped a while back, from a different angle. As I mentioned earlier Menacuddle changes with the seasons.

Details of how to find Menacuddle can be seen on my Post : The Secretive Menacuddle Holy Well and Chapel, Cornwall


Thanks for visiting my blog, good wishes ~ Mike.