The fascinating history of the Leper Well
THE Leper Well in Whitehouse Lane, Gunstone, is a unique element of local history. The first recorded description is in “The Natural History of Staffordshire” by Robert Plot in 1686 (see photo).
Robert Plot was an English naturalist and antiquarian who was the first professor of chemistry at the University of Oxford and the first keeper of the Ashmolean Museum.
In Chapter 2 of his book “The Waters” he describes it as follows:
“119. Near Codsall-wood there is such another Sulphur well, but the Salt and Sulphur not so equally mixt in the water, for though the Sulphur have so sufficiently rebated the acidity of the Salt, as to render it wholy as unactive as an Alcali, so that it lathers well with Soap, will not turn milk and gives a green tincture with Syrup of Violets: yet the Salt is too weak to lock up or restrain the volatility of the Sulphur; for it always emits a sulpheurous smell; but in winter, and sometimes against rain, the odour is so strong, that with the advantage of the wind, one may smell it now and then at least 20 yards off: nay so volatile is it, and so little restrained, that set over the fire, it flyes away so fast, that the water quickly looses is smell, I tried it with Galls and Oke leaves, with the solutions of sublimat and Tartar, and with severall Acids; but none of them would either throw downe the Sulphur, or change its colour but spirit of Urin; which turned it a faint redish colour like Champane wine: perhaps a solution of Saccarum Saturni might have made a precipitation; had I had any with me, or known the secret.
120. The water of this well is much clearer that that at Ingestre, and yet is most certainly sated with suplphureous particles; for about 40 or 50 years since, some persons hereabout curious of knowing whence such waters should come, both dug and boared the ground near adjoining, and met with a sort of mineral Earth that crash’t in the boaring (as some of them described it) like rotten wood; which being carried to London was found sulphureous and I suppose must needs be the native sulphur, depauperated of its richest particles by the incisive atoms of the Salt, and left so spungy that ( as some of them told me) it would swim on the water. This water was accounted in ancient times (when Leprosies were frequent) a soverain Remedy for such as were troubled with that foul distemper, for whose better accommodation, there was a house built near it, which retains to this day the name of the Leper-house; and is in use at present against Scabs and Itch, both in Man and Beast, purging by both Seige and urin, and not only raking the body within, but most effectively driving forth all ill humors; it also sometimes vomits according to the constitution of the Patient: They commonly drink about 3 quarts at a time, less scarce working; except by vomit, where it meets with weak stomacks. The inhabitants hereabout brew their drink with this water, especially at that they call the Brimstone Alehouse; and boyle their meat with it; upon which ‘tis observed, that none of them are ever troubled either with Scabs or Itch, or such like Cuticular diseases.”
Chapter 8 of Plot’s book “Of men and women” has a further reference:
89. They also have a Custom in this County which I observed on holy-Thursday at Brewood and Bilbrook of adorning their wells with boughs and flowers: this it seems they doe too at all Gospell-places, whether wells, trees, or hills: which being now observed only for decency and custom sake is innocent enough. Heretofore too it was usual to pay this respect to such wells as were eminent for cureing distempers, on the Saints day whose name the well bore, diverting themselves with cakes and ale, and a little musick and danceing; which whilst within these bounds, was also an innocent recreation”.
The Morning Post, Wednesday September 7, 1870 (accessed via the British Newspaper Archive website) has a report headed “SULPHUR SPRINGS IN STAFFORDSHIRE” which refers to a “….monthly meeting of the South Midlands Institute of Mining, Civil and Mechanical Engineer in Wolverhampton. A geological survey map indicated that springs of water existed in Codsall Wood, the dingle below Chillington Pool, and in the Leper Well at Gunstone, with the latter known for many centuries. At Codsall Wood the spring issues from the trunk of a decayed tree* and was said to improve the skins of horses who drank it, and known as excellent medicinal water for use at springtime. The spring below Chillington Pool had a pump (known as the Brimstone Pump) erected by Mr Giffard for use by his family and friends. The Leper Well - situated in a meadow on the right side of the lane leading from Codsall Wood to Gunstone, a little beyond the Leper House, was probably the most important. With oval brickwork around the sides the steps were for lepers who used it as a bath. The water was very sulphurous which, when disturbed, gave off a strong smell of sulphuretted hydrogen.
The report continued with description and debate on whether “the sources [of this gas] could be ascribed to volcanoes (active or dormant) or to decomposing pyrites of sulphur in combination with certain metals. Water passing over these ran under the sandstone, in which no pyrites were observed, to reappear through cracks in the overlying sandstone, now impregnated with sulphur, the effect of the decomposition of the iron pyrites”.
* This occurrence is recorded on a sketch dated 1837 which can be seen on Staffordshire Past Track at
Described as ‘Brimstone Well, Codsall Wood.’ Showing a dammed-up stream among leafy foliage.’T.P.W.,’ [Thomas Peploe Wood.]
“Brewood” (published 1988 with corrections 1992: ISBN 1 85421 175 7) is a thoroughly-researched book by the highly-respected local historian, David Horovitz. Chapter 42 “Wells and Well Dressing” has a detailed account of the Leper Well and is an excellent source of additional information.
Photograph of the well c.1982 reproduced by kind permission of David Horovitz
It is described thus:
“The Leper Well, now protected as a scheduled monument, lies at the junction of Lower Keuper sandstone and Keuper marl, and takes the form of a shallow elliptical brick-lined pool some 7’2” wide, 6’2” broad and four or five feet deep, with sandstone benches set internally around the perimeter some 3 feet from the upper edge. Six sandstone steps lead into the water on the east side, and an oak sump or drain appears to have been built into the north wall. The brick work suggests that the present structure probably dates from the eighteenth century. A decaying alder tree grows out of the eastern side of the wall … there is no evidence to show the existence of a leper hospital near the well but the name Leper House Close for the field west of the Leper Well may suggest that any leper house stood to the south of the lane”.
This description and photograph are particularly helpful as the current condition of the site prevents detailed inspection/survey of the structure. David Horovitz has a drawing with the following hand-written annotations:
“Surveyed 4/6/91. Bricks 9” x 2½” x 4½”. Bricks set end-on except top 2 rows. Internally 8’2” x 6’2” bricks end on except last (top) 2 rows. Steps 2’ wide.”
The following drawings are derived from the photograph above and the annotated survey:
“A Guide to Staffordshire & The Black Country, The Potteries & The Peak” Published by Michael Raven (2004) ISBN 0 906114 330 states that “Tradition has it that lepers were blessed by the priest [at Codsall church] and then made their way down the hill, and across Moat Brook, to bathe in the sulphurous waters of the Leper’s Well (SJ 870048). The well is still there … beside the road … There are stone steps leading down to the waters. The circular well walls are bricked around and measure about five feet across”
Horovitz, however, has suggested that as the well is in Brewood parish it is more likely that any blessing would have been given at Brewood church.
There is no clear, definitive evidence to support either theory but the Codsall Church registers have three entries for “borne at ye Leper house” in 1596, 1597 and 1599 for “Alyce, Joyce and Isabell all daughters of Edwarde Carrington” and in 1605 “Richard supposed son of John Lees and ye s. of Marye Tomlynson bapt at ye Leper house being there borne”. There are no comparable records in the Brewood Church registers.
The earliest (19thC) Ordnance Survey maps show a public footpath from Leper House Farm to Codsall church – a distance of some 1.18km (0.73m). These maps do not show a continuous footpath from the Farm to Brewood church – albeit that a combination of footpaths, lanes and roads could be followed to get there. In addition, if footpaths did previously run along field boundaries shown in the 19thC maps (many of which do still exist) then there are links to Brewood some 4.3km (2.67m).
My interpretation is that, in the absence of clear evidence, the most likely link is with Codsall church due to its proximity and the references in the Church register.
Legal status
The well is both a listed building and a scheduled monument and the full entries in the National List can be found at the following websites.
Listed Building: Grade II
Sulphur Well; existing remains probably C18. Brick lining walls with two stone steps. Elliptical with short channel leading to steps.
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1006058?section=official-list-entry
Scheduled Monument
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1180328?section=official-list-entry
Summary of the schedule:
“The holy well known as The Leper Well 320m south-east of Leper House survives well. The area covered by the scheduling has the potential for undisturbed or waterlogged remains associated with the veneration of the well. Its connection to the parish church and a possible leprosy hospital provides a good example of the association of holy wells with religious practices, and of the longevity of the popular reverence and traditions linked with this monument type.
The monument includes a well situated just west of Whitehouse Lane and approximately 80m north east of Moat Brook in Gunstone. The well is brick built and oval in plan, measuring 1.2m by 1.5m and up to 1m deep. Steps lead down into a well basin and a ledge runs around its internal edge. The water is sulphurous and would have been used as a remedy for leprosy and other skin diseases. The well was described by Robert Plot in his publication of The Natural History of Staffordshire published in 1686 and mentions the water’s medicinal qualities. A leprosy hospital is believed to have been built near Gunstone which may be on or near to the site of Leper House. Tradition has it that those affected by leprosy were blessed by the priest from the church in Codsall, just over 800m to the south west, then made their way down the hill, across Moat Brook to bathe in the sulphurous waters of the lepers’ well. The monument is also a Grade II listed building”.