St Mary the Virgin Spring

## Overview St Mary the Virgin Spring is a historic public drinking spring located in the English countryside at approximately 52.17°N, 0.55°W. The spring is built directly into the stone wall surrounding the Church of St Mary the Virgin, a feature that speaks to centuries of community use. Parish churches across England have long been associated with natural water sources, and springs integrated into churchyard walls were often valued by parishioners and travellers alike as reliable sources of fresh water. The spring has historically been used as a drinking water source by locals and visitors to the church. Churchyard springs like this one are a distinctive part of England's rural heritage. Many date back to medieval times or earlier, when churches were frequently built near dependable water sources. Some of these springs were considered holy wells, believed to have curative or spiritual properties. While the specific history of this particular spring is not fully documented, its integration into the church wall suggests it has been a valued feature of the site for a considerable period. ## Directions 1. Navigate to the GPS coordinates **52.17176, -0.55294** using a mapping application. 2. Look for the Church of St Mary the Virgin in the area. 3. The spring is built into the wall that surrounds the churchyard — walk along the perimeter wall to locate it. *Note: As the spring is set into the church boundary wall, it should be visible from the road or footpath adjacent to the churchyard.* ## What to Expect Visitors will find a spring outlet built into the stonework of the wall enclosing the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin. The spring is publicly accessible and has historically served as a community drinking water source, though water quality can vary over time and no current testing data is available. The churchyard setting provides a peaceful and picturesque backdrop. Expect a quiet, rural atmosphere typical of English parish churches. The spring itself is a modest but charming feature — a testament to the longstanding relationship between English villages and their natural water sources. As with any natural spring, conditions may change seasonally. Flow may be stronger during wetter months and reduced during dry spells. Visitors interested in the church architecture or local history may wish to explore the churchyard and the church itself while visiting.