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.

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

A Dozen Photos of South Cornwall Near St. Austell Bay

A dozen mixed photos taken when I was out and about. Must have been up early to catch the misty view of Gribbin Head above - can just make out the Gribbin Tower.

And below a couple of horses pleaded to have their photo taken, so I couldn't refuse. Never look a gift horse in the mouth.

Looking down from the foot bridge over the railway lines at St. Austell. The church always dominates the town.

Here we are now, under a viaduct, looking at the river.

More water and for some inexplicable reason it made me think of the biggest high quality gold nugget ever found which weighed more than 150 lb. No, it wasn't found in Cornwall but was discovered by two Cornish men, John Deason and Richard Oates in 1869. They found it when prospecting near Moliagul in Australia. The men sold it for £9,532. According to an Internet calculator this would be 793263.07 in today's money! 

A terrace of old cottages ...

... and a few more overlooking the countryside.

A small cul de sac and in the distance the only high rise block of flats in Cornwall.

If in Cornwall the sea is never too far away - a bollard for boats, not that there were any about, but I remember it had rained quite heavily thus the puddle.

A sea wall built of local stone ...

... and someone walking on the wall.

The glistening sea at the end of another busy day.

Menacuddle Chapel and Holy Well, Cornwall

We popped into the Holy Well and Chapel at Menacuddle, near St.Austell. The last time we were here was one year ago - how time flies!

Not a lot has changed. I won't go into the history of the chapel and well again, as I covered this on my previous post: The Secretive Menacuddle Holy Well and Chapel, Cornwall. 

The waterfall and river isn't so white on this visit. It is often coloured by china clay deposits in the area. Locally, therefore, it is known as the White River.

A few duotone photos of chapel and area.

Inside the small chapel, it appears clearer and cleaner than a year ago when it was filled with candles and various mementos.  I thought they gave the chapel more character and even a more holy feeling. Of course it is often said that Cleanliness is next to Godliness - so what do I know. Those words are from a 1778 sermon in 1778 by John Wesley.

All shipshape on the outside.

We wandered round the grounds as I couldn't think of any more suitable quotes! Lots of green, green grass … and a pond of sorts.

Some fine trees by the river.

A final look at the waterfall prior to moving on.

Always a pleasure to visit the chapel and, again, we were on our own while there.