BECKETS WELL, DERBY. 49 



that the Rev. C. Kerry, who examined the stonework before the 

 well was again covered, thinks that the date of the lower 

 part is not later than circa 1250 ; and he arrives at this conclusion 

 from tlie character of the markings on one side of the stones, 

 which " had distinctive markings of the mason's axe — most of the 

 stones were chiselled diagonally^ after the medieval fashion." 



The floor of the well is of two levels, and the water originally 

 found its way into the well by means of two inlets on the west side, 

 and issued from it by an outlet on the east side. (See plan, page 50.) 

 At the present time there is but one inlet, the other having been 

 built up. The depth from the top of wall to the ledge or seat is 4 

 feet, and from it to the floor at inlet 4 feet 8 inches, and to the lower 

 floor at outlet is 5 feet 10 inches. At the deep end the water 

 standing in it at the time we measured it was 3 feet 4 inches, so 

 that there is still a good supply of water. It is most likely that 

 this water supplied the monks of St. James's. Afterwards there 

 was a tap in St. James's Lane which was used by the inhabitants 

 up to the time that the new street was made. Still more recently 

 a large pump stood in the centre of the Market Place, which also 

 derived water from the same conduit. Tliis pump was indeed a 

 very useful adjunct to the Market Place. During this period, the 

 water of Becket's Well was used as a kind of reservoir, and could 

 be turned on or off as desired. When the well was recently 

 cleared out, the old turn-cock was found : it was 6 feet 5 inches 

 in length, and the handle 2 feet 2 inches. The dimensions of the 

 walls, etc., will be better understood from the sketch-plan. 

 The entrance of the well being below the level of the ground, it 

 must have been approached by means of a flight of steps, but 

 there are none now. At the present time there is a small 

 court in front of the entrance, which is 9 feet deep from top of 

 wall, and 4 feet 2 inches wide. The walls to this inclosed space 

 are of modern brick, and it appears these walls were at no distant 

 date continued entirely round the well, and the whole was 

 enclosed within a covered shed. This, however, had been 

 removed, as being an interference with the rights of someone ; 

 but the foundations of the walls were left, and plainly visible — 

 4 



