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PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD CLUB 
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ill a walled area but not covered over, and the central spring has an arched 
recess, from which there is a flow of water, which leaves a highly-coloured 
ferruginous deposit. This was tasted by one adventurous Member, but from 
his description of it there was no urgent desire on the part of others to do 
so. On each side of the arch and oppositi to it are springs of ordinary water. 
Miss Eyre has gathered some interesting folk-lore associated with the 
wells. It is said there were once nine, each of which was supposed to cure 
different diseases. The centre well was used as a “ wishing ” well, it being 
the custom to drop pebbles into the water as the wish was made. If bubbles 
came freely to the surface the wish would be realised, if few, there might 
be delay in obtaining it, while if none came it would not be granted. There 
was also the tradition that fairies danced by the wells, drinking water from 
the harebells which next morning would be found scattered on the ground. 
The owner of the land, a surly farmer, stopped up all the wells but one, which 
he kept for his own use. As the result the water on his land gave out, and 
on going to the well he found a little old man sitting on the edge, who said 
there would be no moi'e water until the farmer thought more of his neighbours’ 
wants. The wells were cleared, the drought ceased, and the waters ran once 
more. Thus legend ! 
Nathan Rogers in his Memoirs of Monmouthshire (1708) says that 
“ Treleg Wells, which of late years have been much frequented, and have 
been found very medicinal, are of the nature of Tunbridge waters, flowing 
from an iron-oar {sic) mineral.” 
While assembled round the wells, Mr Charles Upton took the opportunity 
of thanking the Vicar very warmly on behalf of the Members for his kind 
reception of them and giving them so much information concerning the 
antiquities of Trellech. He also thanked Mr T. M. Skinner (who accompanied 
them) for making their visit to Monmouth so interesting. 
A large tract of peaty ground some little distance beyond Trellech was 
searched by the botanists of the party, who secured some of the various bog 
plants. On this was growing large quantities of feathery cotton grass. 
Shortly after 4 o’clock the brakes started for Tintern, where Members 
took tea, and then returned to Gloucester by train. 
REFERENCES. 
Historical Tour in Monmouthshire. By W. Coxe. rSoi. Vol. ii., 
pp. 322-325, plates. 
Monmouth. By W. Bagnall-Oakeley. Archcsologia Cambrensis (1886), 
Series 5, iii., 12-27. with plates. St. Thomas, Over-Monnow. By P. Potter. 
Id., pp. 41-43. 
Old Monmouth. By J. H. Matthews, Archcsologia Cambrensis (1909), 
Series 6, ix., 15-34, 302-3 ii, with illustrations. 
On the Antiquities of Trellech. By Thomas Wakeman. Jour. Brit. 
Arch. Assoc. (1865), .xi., 128-134. 
Burial Mounds in Monmouthshire. By M. E. and W. Bagnall-Oakeley. 
1889. Pp. 13-15, plates v.-vi. 
The Folk-Lore of the Wye Valley. By Margaret Eyre Folk-Lore (1905), 
xvi., 163-166, plate of sun-dial at Trellech. 
Proceedings of the Cambrian Archaeological Association at Trellech 
1908. Archcsologia Cambrensis (1909), Series 6, ix., pp. 67-71, with illustration’ 
History of Monmouthshire. By J. A. Bradney. Vol. ii., pt. 2. The 
Hundred of Trellech. 1913. 
