Page 17 - The Flickering Cauldron Magazine - June 2022

Arriving into the surprising small car park, the path is signposted to take the path to the Well and Chapel. It is a well kept path and suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs, although it could be a little bumpy. Either side of the path is full of undergrowth and trees, it is so peaceful. Soon enough, your eyes are met with the most amazing site of colour and wonder - the Cloutie Trees (also known as the Wishing Trees). Many believe the spring below the trees to be the Holy Well, but this is not the case, more about the Well later.
The Cloutie Trees are adorned with bright strips of cloth and other offerings. Originally, pieces of cloth would be torn from clothing from the part of the body where there was an injury or needed healing, and tied to the tree. Back then, clothes were biodegradable, so would disintegrate over time, it was believed that as the cloth disintegrated, so would the pain healing the injury.
It saddens us to say that modern times have seen the erosion of the original Cloutie trees traditions. They are laden with a mixture of strips of cloth, cards, photos and ceramic or plastic ornaments, along with small plastic bags, all left with wishes and hope, healing rituals and to honour those that have passed. Whilst it’s colourful to see, most are not biodegradable, so will be there for a long time.
It will eventually one day cause an environmental issue and we can foresee, this wonderful gift will be taken away from the public to protect the area.
So, please folks, help protect these beautiful trees. If you do get to visit this wondrous site, please plan ahead, take a piece of biodegradable cloth or object to hang from the trees, NO plastic or ceramics or anything un-biodegradable.
Let's move on to the Holy Well.
The well is about 1/4 mile into a bog from the Cloutie tree. It is not always accessible, especially in wet conditions and there is no proper path to get there, and generally, rule of thumb, you'll need your wellies to get there.
It can be spotted, if not submerged, by the granite stones surrounding the Well, and In the 80’s it was rebuilt from local stones, replicating the original as best they could, to help preserve it.
It is thought the well predates Christianity in England and was definitely there long before the Chapel was built.
Whilst the Well has been visited for healing and divination, for longer than we can know, it was recorded by Robert Hunt in 1871 that maidens would visit on the first three Thursdays in May. They would make a cross to float in the Well. The number of bubbles it produced floating to the surface indicated the years before they would be married. It’s hard to believe, but this tradition continued right up until the outbreak of WW1.
The Flickering Cauldron® Magazine - Madron Holy Well & Chapel | 17