Crysau’n llawn brychau gerbron / shirts full of stains presented: Welsh rag-wells

Abstract

ABSTRACT Visits to wells to obtain cures for illnesses represent an ancient and widespread practice in Britain and Ireland. The practice of leaving rags, or even whole garments, as tokens of belief or gratitude, or both, is also extensively documented. This paper provides a short summary of the antiquity and distribution of well cults. The distribution in Britain and Ireland is then briefly referenced, after which comes the paper’s main focus, a discussion of the historical evidence for the extent and distribution of practices using fabric in various ways at healing wells in Wales. This is accompanied by a description of the variations in ritual at different locations, and how these change over time, especially in the Post-Reformation period. Finally, the paper gives a list of Welsh wells with which rags are associated, highlighting those linked to particular saints.