St Winefride's Well

St Winefride's Well is a holy well located in Holywell, in Flintshire in Wales. The healing waters have been said to cause miraculous cures, since Saint Winefride had her severed head rejoined to her body at that location. The holy well is known as "the Lourdes of Wales".

Related Topics:
Holy well - Holywell - Flintshire - Wales - Miraculous - Saint Winefride - Lourdes

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After a shrine was established in Shrewsbury around 1138, it and St Winefride's Well became important destinations of pilgrimages. Some of the structures at the well date from the reign of King Henry VII, or earlier. Later King Henry VIII caused the shrine and saintly relics to be destroyed, but some have been recovered to be housed at Shrewsbury and Holywell.

Related Topics:
Shrine - Shrewsbury - 1138 - Pilgrimage - King Henry VII - King Henry VIII - Relic

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James II is known to have visited the well with his wife Mary of Modena, after several failed attempts to produce an heir to the throne. Shortly after this visit, Mary became pregnant with a son, James.

Related Topics:
James II - Mary of Modena - James

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The Jesuits have traditionally supported the holy well.

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