More information : At Low Burnham, in Haxey, a spring dedicated to
Our Blessed Lord and was noted for its healing properties.
At one time children were dipped in the water every Ascension Day.
'Holy Well' is at SE 78520205; at the top of Holy Well lane, with
Holy Well House the nearest dwelling. It had been for years only
a dry, roughly rectangular, hollow when, quite recently, Mr.
Horton, (editor of the Epworth Bells) and some colleagues, went to
open it. "Within minutes of digging, water gushed out, and the hollow
filled". No evidence of constructional material was seen and the
well was fenced in and left. A sample of water was analysed and found
to contain beneficial salts. Surveyed at 1/2500. (6)
Hunt suggests the Isle of Axholme as the possible site of the
Battle of Maserfield in AD 642, when the Northumbrian king,
Oswald, was slain by the Mercian king, Penda. He says "the Holy
Well at Low Burnham in the parish of Haxey is supposed to mark the
site where King Oswald fell."(3)
Hodgkin considers Hunt's suggestion improbable. Both he and Stenton
say that the identification of the site of the battle is uncertain,
though earlier writers favour Oswestry, among other places. (1-5)
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