1898] Regarded as a Popish Nuisance 301 



the place. This charge the Town Council holds to have barred the 

 free access of the public to the water. Otherwise the public right would 

 seem absolutely clear. Certainly no bather has been refused admission 

 since before the Norman Conquest. Father Beauclerk took me to see 

 one Lambert, an innkeeper, who gave me further particulars, and who 

 agreed if guaranteed in costs to contest the matter as a Holywell rate- 

 payer and habitual bather. He tells me religious feud is at the bottom 

 of the mischief. Father Beauclerk has been imprudent in making use 

 of the Well for purposes of conversion, and in running it as a religious 

 show. This has enraged the Nonconformists, who have determined to 

 put down the pilgrimage as a Popish nuisance. In order more com- 

 pletely to desecrate the Shrine they propose to lease it to a Soda Water 

 Company at £500 a year, and close the Well on a plea of sanitation. 

 Lambert himself is a Protestant, but having been cured of sciatica by 

 bathing there, is a partisan of the Well. As an innkeeper, too, his 

 interests are affected, for the town depends largely on pilgrims for its 

 prosperity. It is clear that steps must at once be taken to save the 

 Shrine, and I gave Father Beauclerk a cheque for £20 towards legal 

 expenses. He seems, however, to be sadly unpractical, and we must 

 put the conduct of the case into other hands. 



" 20th Oct. — Back to London, where I saw Treherne, the Anti- 

 Scrape lawyer, about St. Winifred's, and also Cockerell. In the even- 

 ing a telegram came from George to say that the Duke of Westminster 

 would take action in the matter, so. that relieves us of a great difficulty." 



