St Loury’s Well

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Holy well on a hillside above Terrydoo Road with a fine view west over Limavady to Lough Foyle. The well is marked by a tall tree in the centre of an otherwise treeless field. The roots of the tree form part of the modern head and sides of the well which is presently covered by a line of three concrete paving slabs terminating in an older cast concrete cover with curved steel head. On each side of the well are rubble stones highest at the source (800mm) falling to nothing at the end of the slabs. There is no stream from the well .which still has water. Nearby are the ruins of a cottage and barn marked on Ordnance Survey Maps as “Wellhill”.

Historical information

“The celebrated holy well in Ballycrum locally called Tobar Loora was famous for the cure of leprosies and other bodily diseases. In ancient times people repaired to the above well from various parts of the surrounding neighbourhood, who was suffering under any of the aforesaid diseases and performed some ancient enjoined stations or prayers, after which ceremony they took water from the well and washed part of the body disordered, after which application the disordered got speedy relief from their former suffering. There was 2 small trouts in the above well for a series of years, which trouts did not appear to visitants but when relief was certain to the patient. The appearance of these trouts during the ceremony of stations been going through was a sure omen of good success to the visiting party, but if they did not appear the party despaired of the aforesaid miraculous cure. At some former period a resident landholder in this parish called Clyde took one of the trouts from the well and had it roasted on coals for his own use, and after eating of it he lost his eyesight immediately and remained stone blind during the remainder of his life. The other trout disappeared a short time after. The practice of stations by adults was much neglected since the removal of the trouts, and the only persons who now visit the above well at May and Midsummer is back-going or sickly children”. (Ordnance Survey Memoirs 1835-7 Vol. 9 p.109). Owner of the land in 1858: Mr James Ferris renting from the Marquis of Waterford, house offices and land .Value of house: £0. 15s. 0d. The association with the well is undoubtedly of great antiquity and may like many other cases pre-date Christianity.

References:

The Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland Vol. 9 p. 109.
Historic Monuments Reference: LDY 10:12

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

An ancient structure beautifully marked by a single tall tree. Protected from cattle etc by a modern concrete cover. Of significant historical, social and local interest.