Ffynnon Gwenfai, Rhoscolyn, Isle of Anglesey

Coordinates

Latitude: 53.2473 / 53°14'50"N

Longitude: -4.61 / 4°36'36"W

OS Eastings: 225951

OS Northings: 375437

OS Grid: SH259754

Mapcode National: GBR GNZ3.R30

Mapcode Global: WH42P.5M0W

Plus Code: 9C5Q69WQ+WX

Entry Name: Ffynnon Gwenfai

Listing Date: 5 April 1971

Last Amended: 3 June 1998

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 5328

Building Class: Water Supply and Drainage

ID on this website: 300005328

Location: In an isolated location on the coast overlooking Porth Gwalch, c 0.9km WSW of the Church of St. Gwenfaen in Rhoscolyn.

County: Isle of Anglesey

Community: Rhoscolyn

Traditional County: Anglesey

Tagged with: Holy well

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Rhoscolyn

History

An early Christian, Medieval, holy well, dedicated to St. Gwenfaen, daughter of Pawl Hen of Manaw (Isle of Man) and sister to Peulan (Llanbeulan, near Rhosneigr), who built her cloister here in AD630.

Exterior

A rectangular drystone structure of 3 chambers set almost completely below the level of the surrounding moorland and lying in an E-W orientation. The square eastern chamber is entered by 3 descending steps at the E end and has stone seats across each corner. To the west end is the rectangular well chamber, divided from the eastern chamber by a drystone wall with a narrow opening at the centre. The well chamber has a stone seat either side contrived in small 'apsidal' recesses; the well itself a rectangular trough with a single step down into the well and below the level of the water. Both chambers have stone flag floors. The outer chamber to the W end is divided from the well chamber by a thick drystone wall; reached by 6 descending stone steps either side, the well itself divided from the inner well by a thick stone slab with circular grooves cut into its upper and lower edges to allow water to flow from the inner to outer wells. At the W end a stone slab pierced with a hole allows water to be contained in the outer well; outflow is along a paved channel to the W leading to the cliff edge.

Scheduled Ancient Monument Ref. AN055.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as an early holy well with unusually substantial structure.

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

II Plas Bach
Set within private grounds, at the side of a single track lane, directly opposite Plas and c120m SSW of the Church of St. Gwenfaen in Rhoscolyn.
II Plas
Set within private grounds, at the side of a single track lane, c150m S of the Church of St. Gwenfaen in Rhoscolyn.
II Lifeboat memorial
Set within the grounds of Rhoscolyn Churchyard, c10m SW of the Church of St. Gwenfaen.
II Church of St. Gwenfaen
Stands in a prominent location above the road in the small hamlet of Rhoscolyn in the SW part of the parish.
II Rhoscolyn Beacon
In an isolated location on one of the islands forming Ynysoedd Gwylanod, c0.6km SW of the Rhoscolyn headland.
II Rhoscolyn Lookout Station
Located at the end of Rhoscolyn headland, c1.1km SSE of the Church of St. Gwenfaen at Rhoscolyn.
II Rhoscolyn Lifeboat Station
Set on the coastline above the E side of Rhoscolyn Bay.
II Rhoscolyn Methodist Chapel, railings and gates
Set back slightly from the road, c 0.75km NNE of the Church of St. Gwenfaen in Rhoscolyn.

British Listed Buildings

History in Structure

Ffynnon Gwenfai

A Grade II Listed Building in Rhoscolyn, Isle of Anglesey