Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1903-08-29 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

TTIE LEGENDS OE ROAN WELL. Many a long year ago a. badger—that ia a pedLer—travelling on his way to Reeth, lost his way. Meeting two men he enquired of them to direct him. One et these two, unseen by the pedlar, gave his companion a nudge, and hastened to give the information required, or rather preferred so to do, for in reality he misled the lost man by giving him such wrong information, that following the direction given he at length found himself in this wild glen. It was when passing near the well that ha was suddenly set upon and barbarously murdered, his body being secretly buried, his goods hidden away, and his money divided. So far not a trace of the man wio left—at least, so the two wretches flattered themselves. But lo! a spot of blood by some means fell into the well end discoloured the water. Its hitherto healing properties disappeared. Whispers arid oonjectures were soon busily isissed from mouth to mouth. An apparition began to haunt the well, as well as the inur&rem, until in the end one of the culprits wae so terrified that he confessed. What became of the murderers is not now known, ' tradition upon that point is silent. We are informed, by what means, the well was purified of its stain of guilt, and was once again endowed with those healing powers, for which during time immemorial it had been so widely noted. Tradition says Oleg on Trinity Sunday next, following the oonfes,sion of the murder, the blessed Virgin came to the well and dipped one of her feet in the water, when it was instantly purified and its healing properties restored. Hence the imprint of a foot upon the buns. The above is a variant of the following, which most probably is the root story Long ages ago the healing virtue of the water of Roan Well was widely known, and held in high repute. People afflicted with certain ailments which the drinking or bathing in its waters would cure, came hither from afar to try its vaunted virtues, and were cured. But there came a day when its waters failed, and presently it was whispered in secret, then openly proclaimed, that its virtue had fled. This was a loss to the poor and those stricken with foul disease beyond the power of those living in these days to imagine. In the end wise men and wise wcenen were besought to charm or frighten the ill away, but in this instance we are told their magic failed. It was the cripple daughter of a poor man who dreamed thrice that "a certain man 011 going to the well for the cure of some small ailment, because he had not been instantly cured, spat in the well, and cursed it, and that its healing virtues would not came back until he was taken to the well and left there bound hand and foot." So impressed were the folk by this dream, that on the man being questioned, and admitting his fault, he wee instantly bound hand and foot, and carried thither, the good folk little dreaming what his punishment was to be. No sooner was he laid by the well, time "'The evil spirit of the well seized upon the desecrating spitter, and tore him in pieces." The "Evil spirit of the well." I questioned, and repeated the question in another form, "Do you wish me to understand it was an evil spirit which gave to the well its healing virtue)" The answer e as, "I know nothing about that. My mother and my grand dame, and adore them for ought I know—any way them two, always said it was an evil spirit which guarded the well. But, mind you, the esil spirit didn't make the well heal folk again, its power to do that was only after the blessed Virgin came and dipt her foot in it, and then it was as good as ever again."