Clootie Well Cornwall

Many holy wells are thought to have been the focus for pre christian rites and ceremonies and even today the trees and bushes surrounding the well are festooned with rags known as clouties tied on as protection against evil or to ensure good health and good fortune.

Clootie well cornwall. Clootie wells are found in celtic nations scotland ireland and cornwall in england. In cornwall at madron well the practice is to tie the cloth and as it rots the ailment is believed to disappear. A clootie well once existed at kilallan near kilmacolm in renfrewshire. Clootie wells are wells or springs almost always with a tree growing beside them with an assortment of garments or rags left often tied to the branches of the trees surrounding the well.

Clootie wells like the one here at munlochy are found in celtic places like cornwall and ireland and are linked to ancient healing traditions. Known as a clootie well this is one of several remains of a celtic tradition that goes back to calling on water spirits for healing. Madron well is one of the most hallowed of cornish well sites and has been a place of pilgrimage for many centuries. The rag or cloot is dipped in the well and tied to a tree in the hope that a sickness or ailment will fade as the rag disintegrates.

In wynn s mind the way to cleanse himself is through the common means of a clootie well a well filled with water sacred to a spirit or a local goddess. This holy well was dedicated to st fillan and cloth was tied to overhanging shrub branches. Clootie tree at sancreed well cornwall when used at the clootie wells in scotland ireland and the isle of man the pieces of cloth are generally dipped in the water of the holy well and then tied to a branch while a prayer of supplication is said to the spirit of the well in modern times usually a saint but in pre christian times a goddess or local nature spirit.