The Petrifying Well
By Magic Quill, 5th Aug 2010 | Follow this author
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Posted in WikinutTravelEuropeEnglandYorkshire
The Petrifying Well is one of Englands oldest visitor attractions.
The Petrifying Well
The Petrifying Well in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire is a fascinating tourist attraction. The Well can be found at Mother Shipton’s Cave, the birthplace of the illegitimate child who later became a psychic. Mother Shipton was born during the reign of Henry VIII in the cave which is near to the river Nidd. It is said that she predicted the Spanish Armada, and The Great Fire of London.
The Petrifying Well, once known as the Dropping Well has over centuries attracted many visitors. In the 1600s the waters were analysed by a Medical Physician who claimed that the waters had healing properties. People came from far and wide to shower there.
North Yorkshire is a hard water area and the mineral content means that soap is hard to lather and kettles constantly fur up. However the Knaresborough spring which feeds the Petrifying Well is such an extreme case of hard water that a teddy bear hung up under the torrent would take merely six weeks to have the appearance and feel of stone.
In 1630 the owner of the land, Charles Slingsby began charging visitors to the well and organising guided tours. Today’s visitor will see a whole range of objects hanging up under the cascading waters, including two hats left there in 1853 by a couple on their way to the York races.
In 1923 the Queen was so impressed by the well that she took off her shoe and left it there to be petrified. Various celebrities have left objects at the well, including cast members of various TV soaps, John Wayne and Agatha Christie. Perhaps most intriguing of all is the petrified parasol.
Comments
8th Aug 2010 (#)
Interesting write! A place I must try and visit at some point!
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8th Aug 2010 (#)
that was really interesting!
i want a petrified teddy bear!(^o^)/
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