More information : [SW 44653280] Madron Well Chapel [G.T.] (Remains of)
[SW 44553275] Madron Well [G.T.] (1)
"A mile north [of Madron Church - 68 SW 1] are the ruins of the
celebrated baptistery known as Madron Well. The little building,
which is of 14th century date, occupies the site of a much older Celtic structure." (2)
"The chapel [of St.Maddern] is internally 20 ft. in length, by
10 ft. in width, and the wall measures 2 ft.in thickness, and at
present about 8 or 9 ft. in height. It was dismantled in the days
of Cromwell and has been gradually going to ruin since then. See
AO/59/382/8. (3)
Madron Well Chapel is scheduled as an ancient monument. (4)
The well is correctly sited on the O.S. 25".
Ground photograph: See AO/60/293/5 - Well from S.E.
Haslam's description of the Baptistry is correct. Within the last century however the roof of the well has collapsed, and the
window in the south wall has been entirely effaced. To the north of the entrance there is a rectangular mound of earth, 0.3m high, with a kerb of stones. Its purpose could not be determined. A wall of slabs and boulders encloses the chapel on its S.W. and S.E. sides, and this may be an early precinct wall. It is now within a modern field wall which forms the sole boundary on the NW and NE.
A 25" survey of the remains has been made. Ground hotographs: see AO/60/293/6, altar from the west AO/60/293/7 Well in baptistry from the west. AO/60/293/8 - north wall and entrance to baptistry. (5)
Madron well-chapel, not a baptistery, forms part of a complex that
has some claim to be the original location of St. Madern's cult. The traditional holy well lies away from the chapel itself.
The chapel lies inside some form of small curvilinear enclosure marked by a bank, but this may be a Medieval addition.
It is not easy to date the building, either foundations or present structure, and what is visible today must be from re-building although the lower courses are no doubt genuine, see plan.
The granite altar slab acting as a mensa appears to date from the middle or first half of the 12th century, which also applies to the seats and chancel division. There is no proof of any part of the existing structure being older than the 12th century but its size and proportions suggest an Early Christian foundation. (6-7)
Madron Well Chapel scheduled under Ecclesiastical Buildings, No 39. (8)
St Madron Well scheduled under Other Secular Sites Baptistry Chapel of St. Madern' Well, HHR Grade 2. and Buildings, No. 722. (9)
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