Coventy Well

This is a small sacred well on the outskirts of the town Great Torrington, in North Devon.  It is located on the commons, just past the old bowling green.  In the 14C lepers from the nearby village of tadiport (famous for its leper fields and Leperfest every year) would go to the well and use the healing waters to help cure their condition.

Coventy Well, Torrington Commons, North Devon

This well was probably one of many dedicated to the Romano-british goddess of wells and springs, Coventina.  Coventina was once much revered and there is still a shrine to her in Northumberland, near Hadrians Wall.  It is thought that the river Tyne and the City Coventry both got their names from Coventina.

Coventina, Goddess of wells and springs.