Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 2.djvu/258

232 St. Piran's, is sunk below the level of the surrounding cemetery, and it has a division running across it, to mark the limits of the nave and chancel, the former of which measures 15 ft. in length, and the latter only 5 ft. The altar is of stone, and a bench of stone is built along the walls all around the interior. There is a small window in the south wall, measuring about 1 ft. 3in. in width, the arch of which is destroyed; and opposite to this window is the doorway, in this instance placed on the north side; it measures 2ft. 10 in. in width, and the head of this is also gone. This oratory was built near a little stream which flows under its south-western angle; here a well had been excavated which is continually fed by the clear stream as it passes onward. The well is enclosed by rude masonry, having an aperture into the nave, about 4ft. in height, and 2in. in width: a moor-stone lintel is placed across the top to support the little roof of this well. This is the only instance I have found of a well placed within a chapel. Norden, who wrote early in the seventeenth century, says of this well that "its fame in former ages was greater for the supposed virtue of healinge which St. Madderne had thereinto infused, and manie votaries made annale pylgrymages unto it, as they doe even at this day, unto the well of St. Winnifrede beyonde Chester, in Denbighshire, whereunto thowsands doe yearelye make resorte: but of late St. Madderne hath denied his (or her I knowe not whether) pristine ayde; and as he is coye of his cures, so now are men coye of comynge to his conjured well, yet soom a daye resorte." Though this writer seems to despise the efficacy of these waters, the tradition of their virtues still remained amongst the Cornish: only a century ago, a writer describing the gene-