MSO8012 - Agnes' Fountain, Allerford (Monument)

Summary

The fountain was constructed in 1820 and named after the youngest daughter of Sir Thomas Acland. It comprises a small spring with large stones placed irregularly around it. It has recently been described as a holy well.

Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record .

Type and Period (3)

Protected Status

Full Description

The 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map shows the site labelled as 'Agnes Fountain'. [1] St Agnes' Fountain, Selworthy, listed as a holy well. [2] St Agnes' Fountain is a small spring in Allerford Plantation. There is no structure but large stones have been placed irregularly around it. See GP AO/65/181/3 [5?]. [3] SS 90474737. Agnes Fountain. Believed to be medieval in date. Monument scheduled on 16 October 2002. [4] The Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment of 2009 gave the site a survival score of 0. [6] In 2002/3, the 'Holy Wells in Tarka Country' Project recorded Agnes Fountain as a 'holy well', which is generally described as 'a well or spring where there is a tradition of veneration or association with religious or magical experience'. National Trust archives detail the well being constructed in 1820 and the diary of the rector of Selworthy records in 1824 that the fountain was named after the youngest daughter of Sir Thomas Acland, who owned the Estate. Almost certainly the spring existed before it was named after this member of the Acland family and so perhaps should not be dismissed as an ancient site. [8] An old photograph shows a finger post at the fountain site. It names it 'Agnes Fountain'. [9] The site is named 'Agnes Fountain' on the 1962 Ordnance Survey map but changes to 'St Agnes Fountain' on the 1973-4 map. [10,11] The site was surveyed in June 2015 as part of the 2015 Exmoor Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment. It was given a survival score of 0. [12] [SS 90474738] Agnes Fountain (NAT). [13] ""Agnes Fountain"" is point located and labelled on 2020 MasterMap data. [14]

Sources/Archives (14)

  • <1> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1868-1901. County Series; 1st Edition 25 Inch Map. 1:2500.
  • <2> Monograph: Horne, E. 1923. Holy Wells of Somerset. P. 52.
  • <3> Unpublished document: PALMER, JP. Field Investigators Comments. Ordnance Survey visit, 22 July 1965.
  • <4> Unpublished document: English Heritage. 1/11/2002. English Heritage to Somerset County Council.
  • <5> Photograph: Palmer, R. St. Agnes' Fountain. OS65/F181/3. B/W. MICROFILM.
  • <6> Report: Bray, L.S.. 2010. Scheduled Monument Condition Assessment 2009, Exmoor National Park.
  • <7> Serial: Antiquity Publications Limited. 1927 -. Antiquity. 45 (1909), 176 (reference needs confirming).
  • <8> Article in serial: Camp, P. 2009. Holnicote Estate Countryside News - January 2009.
  • <9> Photograph: Frederick Robert Stenner Rice. c.1904. Agnes Fountain and associated fingerpost. B/W.
  • <10> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1962. 6 Inch Map: 1962. 1:10560.
  • <11> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1973. 1:2500. 1:25,000.
  • <12> Report: Gent, T. and Manning, P.. 2015. Exmoor National Park Scheduled Monument Condition Survey 2015.
  • <13> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1931. 6 Inch Map: 1931. 1:10560.
  • <14>XY Map: Ordnance Survey. 2020. MasterMap data. 1:2,500. [Mapped feature: #40474 ]

External Links (1)

Other Statuses/References

  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO11578
  • Local List Status (No)
  • National Monuments Record reference: SS 94 NW6
  • National Park: Exmoor National Park
  • Pastscape HOBID (was Monarch UID): 36777
  • Somerset SMR PRN (Somerset): 33984

Map

Location

Grid reference SS 9047 4737 (point)
Map sheet SS94NW
Civil Parish SELWORTHY, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Nov 11 2020 2:57PM

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