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St Ffraed's Well, Cynhawdre is a post-medieval holy well located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference CD157. The well lies upon bedrock composed of Llandovery rocks—undifferentiated mudstone, siltstone and sandstone formed during the Llandovery period. This geology is typical of south Wales, where such sedimentary strata provide reliable water sources that have been valued for centuries.
Holy wells were places of pilgrimage and healing throughout the medieval period and beyond, and many continued in use well into the modern era. St Ffraed's Well reflects this enduring tradition of sacred springs in the Welsh landscape, dedicated to a saint whose cult maintained local devotion. The site's survival and official protection indicate its significance within the wider network of Welsh holy wells.
The well's location upon permeable Llandovery sandstones and siltstones would have ensured a steady supply of groundwater, making it a dependable source of fresh water in addition to its spiritual importance. Such natural advantages, combined with the saint's association with healing, would have attracted pilgrims to Cynhawdre across generations, establishing the well as a focal point of local religious practice that remains historically and culturally important today.
St Ffraed's Well, Cynhawdre is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CD157. View the official record →
St Ffraed's Well, Cynhawdre is a post-medieval holy well located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference CD157.
St Ffraed's Well, Cynhawdre dates from the post medieval/modern period, and is classified as a holy well. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
St Ffraed's Well, Cynhawdre is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is CD157.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Burnt Mound 230m NE of Ffos (1.5 km), Castell Flemish (4.3 km), Hafod Ithel Deserted Rural Settlement (5.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of St Ffraed's Well, Cynhawdre's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
St Ffraed's Well, Cynhawdre stands on Llandovery Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Llandovery. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.