Wells Water Courses - St John's Priory Mill (5). This is the site of St. John's Bridge where the brethren of St John's Priory, opposite, had a mill (5) which utilized the power from St Andrew's Stream flowing from the wells of the Bishop's Palace. It continues on to Sheldon's Mill on West Street where, the ground having fallen 2 metres, it turned a breast shot wheel of which the remains can be seen in the entrance of the old Mill buildings (6). St Andrew's Stream carries on to Keward Mill on Jocelyn Drive (7) which ceased working in about 1970 but the hatch spillway and mill intake are preserved as are the 5ft water wheel and some mill machinery. The stream eventually joins the River Sheppey and Brue.

St John Street, Wells, United Kingdom

Wells Water Courses - Bishop's Mill (2). Wells derives its name from the natural springs which rise in the Bishop's Palace grounds (1). The springs known collectively as St. Andrew's Well, produce an average of 40 gallons of water per second. In the 15thC Bishop Bekynton tamed the sources to power the Bishop's Palace, and provide water for the City and the once busy City mills. Close to this site, the Bishop's Mill (2) was built, perhaps as early as Saxon times, where the Bishop's tenants were required to have their corn ground by the water mill and to pay him for the privilege. Water is still running under your feet and several adjacent buildings including the Town Hall as a relic of this mill.

Townhall Buildings, Wells, United Kingdom

Wells Water Courses - Market Place Conduit (3). In 1451 Thomas Bekynton, Bishop of Bath and Wells, who had built new houses in the Market Place, Penniless Porch and the Bishop's Eye made a grant to provide clean water for the citizens of Wells from the copious springs within the Bishop's Palace. The water flows from the Palace moat to this Conduit (3) and then down the right side of the High Street. In return for this gift the City Council were required to visit the Bishop's tomb in the Cathedral to pray for his soul. To this day, prayers are offered at the Chantry Chapel of Bishop Bekynton in January each year. The present conduit dates from the late 1800's and the water running down the left side of the High Street was the gift of Bishop Richard Beadon in 1803 "for the cleansing of the City and the extinguishing of fires."

Market Place, Wells, United Kingdom