Holystone

A place of sacred legend, Holystone is where missionaries preached the Gospel and where later a community of nuns built a priory near to a sacred spring called the Ladies' Well.  

The  religious significance of this area may be seen by its other names used through the ages. St Ninian's Well and the Well of St Paulinus.

 Other place names in the area further remind us of the monastic age; Nun's Close, a field on a nearby farm, and St Mungo's Well on the south bank of the Holystone burn and opposite the church. 

To reach the well, park in the visitor car park in the forest at the edge of the village then follow the signs: through the trees, and across the fields.

A basin of water (39 feet by 23 feet) is surrounded by tall beech trees and a tall cross erected in the centre. A magical place where the inscription on the cross proudly proclaims:

"In this place Paulinus the bishop baptised 3,000 Northumbrians  Easter 627".

There seems to have been a little poetic license in this story as, according to research, the Bishop was actually in York on this day. The confusion seems to have arisen from the similarity of the names:

Sancta Petra   -    Holystone
and
Sancti Petri   -   St Peter's Church

Although the date may be inaccurate the story may yet be true. 

At one end of the pool stands a statue of St Paulinus brought from Alnwick and at the other end stands an altar called the Holy Stone.

Only the small village church of St. Mary remains as part of the original nunnery and even this was largely rebuilt in 1848-9. In 1291 there were 27 nuns recorded as living here with 4 lay brothers, 3 chaplains and a master.

Whilst in the area wander over the fields to the village to look at one of the oldest coaching inns in the country. This is the famous Salmon Inn, known to many throughout England. It is now closed, having finally been converted into a private house. Lack of passing trade was the reason given.