The Blind Well

One of the old superstitions of Bourne was that a visit to the Blind Well would help anyone who had lost their sight regain it. The origins of this legend are lost and the only mention of it that can be found today is a brief reference by local schoolmaster Joseph Davies in his book Historic Bourne that was published in 1909.

He says that the Blind Well, also known as the Blind Man's Well, was an ancient source situated in a field adjacent to the entrance to Bourne Wood. "From time immemorial", he wrote, "it has been popularly credited with special curative virtues for eye complaints."

Legend has it that a man who had lost his sight would have it restored if he visited the well and bathed his eyes in the water and Davies records that for many years into the 20th century, many people had been known to go there for that purpose although he does not quote any evidence that the treatment was successful.

Water from Bourne has always had a reputation for its quality and the story is most likely to have stemmed from those early times when the public only had access to supplies that were most probably unhygienic whereas the well or spring referred to was uncontaminated because it came directly from underground and was as pure as any that could be obtained at that time. There is also evidence that special medicinal waters drawn from local sources were being dispensed to patients from doctors' prescriptions and the popularity of the mineral water industry that flourished in Bourne from the late 19th century onwards bears out its efficacy.

See also   Bourne's spa waters