Clitheroe Town Wells Conservation Campaign

On January 25th, 2025, a very successful meeting was held in the Moot Hall at Clitheroe Library- the aim being to assess the interest which the campaign was generating. Almost 60 persons assembled and listened attentively as Steve Burke, Secretary to the campaign, gave a brief outline on the strata of the ground which Clitheroe was built upon during its formative years including the importance of sweet, potable water from the springs which gushed from various points and culminated in three main well springs, evidence of which we see today in Heild Well, St. Mary’s Well and Stock Well,- each imbued with its own unique characteristics. Chairman, Steve Ragnall, then took the floor and provided a beautifully executed power-point presentation which enforced the details of the wells’ antiquity, their necessity to the dwellers in this ancient town and unique rights to a place in the history of Clitheroe. He stressed the need for conservation and the fact that title with His Majesties Land Registry was the first hurdle to overcome - no-one dares to take on ownership !!– although Steve then completely demolished all of the reasons given for not doing so !! Steve Burke then explained just what the campaign hoped to achieve despite many “spanners” being thrown into the works by officers of Ribble Valley Council and their legal advisors and asked for the support of all at the meeting with hopes that they would depart and lobby their own Councillors for support for the initiative. During a question and answer time many interesting and pertinent questions were raised and answered – showing that the electorate of the Ribble Valley ARE completely behind the aspirations of the campaign and it’s committee. Although these wells were made redundant when a water-works was formed in 1855, they had achieved their aims - and done that right WELL.