319 
historical surroundings of particular sinings, and even of some that 
have been regarded as spas or medicinal waters. 
Of spnnp, whose virtues are entirely legendary, may be mentioned 
the “ Wishing Wells ” situated in the Abbey grounds at Walsingham. 
'I'hoy were described by the Ilev. 11. J. Leo-Warner, as being 
slightly chalybeate. There are two of these wells, situated close 
together in the alluvial ground bordering the Stiifkey stream, and 
whatsoever virtue they possess is probably owned also by the little 
river whicli keeps up their supply. In tlie same enclosure of the 
Abbey grounds is a larger well, which may have been a baptistery, 
or a pool for healing tlio afllicted, or simply a bathing-place 
for dusty pilgrims: its original purpose has long been lost 
sight of. 
In the churchyard at East Deroham is a well dedicated to With- 
hurga (the youngest daughter of Annas, king of East Anglia), who 
died A.D. Gd4. Although supposed by some to have been used as 
a baptistery,* it is probable that this w’ell also, in by-gone times, was 
visited by the sick at certain appropriate seasons, and lot ns trust 
with bonolicial results. Mr. J. II. Wako informs mo that the spring ' 
issues at the junction of Glacial sand and gravel with the chalk v 
iioulder Clay beneath. 
On the Ordnance ]\Iap, near Costessey, a spot is marked “ Walsams 
\\ ells; and Llomefield mentions that on Church Farm, a little 
obw Laubui-gh Church, there was a healing spring, called St. 
\V alstan’s Well. The saint, who was born at Bauburgh (Baber) 
died in Costessey Wood, and a spring rose at the spot “contrary to 
the nature of the place.”! 
lor more than three hundred years the medical properties of 
mineral waters have attracted the attention of the learned; but 
towards the middle and close of the last century, and for the first 
twenty-five years in tliis, there was a sort of rage for tliese waters. 
^n hundreds of places in this country, where there had been 
detected waters containing a small percentage of iron-o.vide, or saline 
matter, or which were delicately seasoned with sulphur, there were 
advertised the virtues of a spa. At many of these places baths 
were erected, while analyses of the waters were made, books and 
* See ‘ Arcliajologia,’ vol. xi. p. 127. 
t ‘History of the County of Norfolk’ (fol. ed.), vol. i. p. 641. 
O 
