The fourth is a piece of prose by the poet and writer John Clare, called 'Dewdrops' which describes the magic of water on grass blades glistening in the spring sun. East Dorset Antiquarian Society, a Wimborne based group actively engaged in archaeological and historical research has, at the request of the Hazelbury Bryan Millennium Committee, recently undertaken an excavation of The Holy Well in their Parish. Like most such features it is a captured Spring, rather than a Well. It was made defunct in the 1950s, covered with soil and forgotten about. Their excavation revealed a substantial construction with the water still flowing through it.
Legend has it that it cures sore eyes.
Its date of construction is not known, but records show it to have been in existence in 1607. It is therefore likely to be much older. There are plans to try and rejuvenate it as part of the Millennium celebrations. John W. Day of EDAS is integrating the final archaeological report with a study of water supplies, with particular reference to Hazelbury and surrounding parishes. If you have any information on local wells and springs, or related to water supplies, please let us know and we will put you in touch with Mr Day.