The Village Pump & the old Plague Well

The Village Pump (top left) was erected when the village was rebuilt in the early 19thC.  

Although no longer providing water, it is still standing on Pump Lane, carefully preserved.

The old Plague Well (lower left) was situated on a stream that runs in front of the Dower House on Abbes Walk, the running water constantly refreshing the well. Nothing now remains, although the base and filled in well were still visible in the 1950's.

It was known as the 'Plague Well' and the stone roofing and seats were probably in existence at the time of the great plague of 1665. At that time it would have been the main well for the village, which was situated just up the hill around the church.

Outbreaks of plague were a scourge of mediaeval England and one way of retaining them was for villagers to wash and cleanse the coinage in running water and leave it in the well in exchange for produce and goods left by tradesmen.