Save the roof of St Cleer's Holy Well

Vital maintenance work needs to take place to save the roof of St Cleer’s Holy Well, a rare medieval holy well and wayside cross, situated in the middle of the village of St Cleer, near Liskeard. But we need your support to make it happen.

In order to protect this invaluable part of Cornwall’s heritage, we are looking to raise £8000 to have the roof completely repointed by Historic England-approved heritage specialists — essential maintenance which the Grade One Listed, Scheduled monument has been in need of for some time.

Taken into the care of Cornwall Heritage Trust last November, the well is a Scheduled Monument and also Listed Grade One – a demarcation earned by only 2.5% of listed buildings, which Historic England defines as warranting “exceptional interest”.

Thought to date from the early 16th century, it is the only example of a well house with an open porch-like design in Cornwall. The well had become a ruin by about 1700 but was restored in 1864-5 as a memorial to a long-serving vicar of St Cleer, the Reverend John Jope.

Historic England Heritage at Risk Project Officer, Ann Preston-Jones said: "Although the roof is built of massive blocks of granite and looks very secure, close examination showed that there are many gaps between the blocks, where pointing has eroded away and been lost with time. To secure the well-house for the future, and prevent it is essential that these repairs are carried out as soon as possible.”

St Cleer’s Holy Well is a unique part of Cornwall’s heritage that deserves to be protected for future generations. All over Cornwall, there are heritage sites that are uncared for and at risk – some that are even lost forever. It is vital that its future is safeguarded!