Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Ffynnon Gwenfai
Rhoscolyn, Isle of Anglesey, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Rhoscolyn, Isle of Anglesey, designated on 5 April 1971.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Water Supply and Drainage
- Date of designation
- 5 April 1971
- Locality
- Rhoscolyn
- Community
- Rhoscolyn
- Unitary authority
- Isle of Anglesey
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 53.24733, -4.61004
- Cadw reference
- 5328
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1799 map "Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1799 · Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1899 · 105 Carnarvon (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1919 · Sheet 41. Anglesey. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
In an isolated location on the coast overlooking Porth Gwalch, c 0.9km WSW of the Church of St. Gwenfaen in Rhoscolyn.
History
An early Christian, Medieval, holy well, dedicated to St. Gwenfaen, daughter of Pawl Hen of Manaw (Isle of Man) and sister to Peulan (Llanbeulan, near Rhosneigr), who built her cloister here in AD630.
Exterior
A rectangular drystone structure of 3 chambers set almost completely below the level of the surrounding moorland and lying in an E-W orientation. The square eastern chamber is entered by 3 descending steps at the E end and has stone seats across each corner. To the west end is the rectangular well chamber, divided from the eastern chamber by a drystone wall with a narrow opening at the centre. The well chamber has a stone seat either side contrived in small 'apsidal' recesses; the well itself a rectangular trough with a single step down into the well and below the level of the water. Both chambers have stone flag floors. The outer chamber to the W end is divided from the well chamber by a thick drystone wall; reached by 6 descending stone steps either side, the well itself divided from the inner well by a thick stone slab with circular grooves cut into its upper and lower edges to allow water to flow from the inner to outer wells. At the W end a stone slab pierced with a hole allows water to be contained in the outer well; outflow is along a paved channel to the W leading to the cliff edge.
Scheduled Ancient Monument Ref. AN055.
Reason for designation
Listed as an early holy well with unusually substantial structure.
Nearby in the register
- Ffynnon GwenfaenHoly Wellunder 1 mi
- Plas BachDomesticunder 1 mi
- PlasDomesticunder 1 mi
- Lifeboat memorialCommemorativeunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.