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An individual was amazed after noticing fascinating symbols on an Ordnance Survey map dating back to the 1850s, which prompted them to explore the area they represented.
Chris Gledhill, an admitted history enthusiast, started on an expedition to Oxfordshire searching for a duo of locations designated ‘Spring’ and ‘Physic Well’ that had captured his imagination. “I find studying old maps really enjoyable,” he noted in a TikTok caption, alongside a video showcasing his escapade.
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“There is such a wealth of incredible historical details marked on them that are not apparent on contemporary Google/Apple Maps.” Chris journeyed into the rural landscape, passing by charming thatched-roof dwellings that originated in the 14th and 15th centuries. However, his journey through medieval times would direct him to something much more ancient.
Chris opted to initially seek out ‘Physic Well’, clarifying: “Physic in old English denotes medicine or healing… these are age-old Pagan sacred locations, generally around 2,000 years in age, and sometimes even older. It’s challenging to locate them in the modern era, but they were still indicated on the ancient maps.”
Proceeding through forest terrain, Chris eventually encountered the location – a natural reservoir of water enclosed by a handcrafted stone boundary.
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@cgledhill
I love looking at old maps. There is so much cool historical stuff marked on them that you cant see on the modern google/apple maps. Here we find a couple of 2000+ year old pagan holy wells. They would likely have been used for drinking water, spiratual purposes and probably had some perceived medicinal properties. #history #historytok #historytime #hiking #exploring
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“You can observe here on the historical pathway that someone has fashioned a sort of bathtub shape out of it,” Chris revealed further. “The water would be supplied through an underground spring of sorts, ensuring it would never become depleted.”
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After casting a penny as an “offering”, Chris moved onward to the ‘Spring’ location – one that he admitted left him feeling “astonished”. On this occasion, he was met with a more complex structure, but just as old. “I was anticipating simply locating another indentation in the earth – not something as refined as this,” he acknowledged.
“This location is truly remarkable… that part in the rear is the original well where the water would have surfaced,” Chris highlighted, specifying a small area within a spacious rocky perimeter. “To the right, there are steps descending into what would have resembled a pool of spring water,” he contributed.
Chris was also surprised by a stone on the surface that had been sculpted to form a basin-like shape featuring spouts extending from the sides. “I have no idea what its purpose was,” he confessed. “It’s generally arid today, but you can still discern that it’s rather muddy and damp at the base… I anticipate that following a period of rainfall, the water will still bubble forth from the hole.”
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Chris concluded by sharing his astonishment that for “more than 2,000 years, people had used those steps to make their way down to immerse themselves in the holy waters of the spring, possibly hoping for restoration or procreation”.
In response, one TikTok user considered: “I’m curious as to what it would take to revitalize them.” To which Chris, the historian, replied: “I suspect the water table has been negatively impacted by local farms utilizing the springs for livestock and crop irrigation. It’s likely the farms would have to cease this practice for a period to allow them to properly replenish to medieval levels.”
Regarding the unexplained stone, meanwhile, one inquisitive follower queried Chris: “Could the rock have been used for laundering clothes or something similar?” To which he responded: “I initially thought of a sacrificial stone, but indeed, washing garments is a far more innocent explanation.”
Whilst a third intrigued viewer noted: “Wow, that’s incredibly fascinating! If you were to remove the sediment and debris, do you think the spring would flow again?” Chris elucidated: “I believe the underground water level is considerably lower than it once was, which explains why it was mostly dry during my visit. I anticipate that after extended periods of significant rainfall, the water will resurface.”