Builders discovered a medieval well in Ripon, North Yorkshire, during a £400,000 renovation of the Halls of Ripon Department Store, with the well believed to date back to medieval times. 8 meters) deep and was discovered in excellent condition. The well was inspected by builder Paul Fountain, his son Ollie, and mountaineering instructor Pete Breckon, with Fountain abseiling down the well with climbing ropes assisted by Breckon.
Paul Fountain called the experience of going down the well a "mind-blowing experience" and said the stonework of the well was top notch. Richard Taylor, chair of Ripon Civic Society, called the unearthed well an "impressive discovery" and noted that other wells had been found around Ripon, but none in the heart of the city centre. Barry Cooper, Halls of Ripon director, described the well as "a welcome bonus" to the transformation plans.
Mind-blowing experience.
The plan is to put a secure reinforced glass cover on the well and make it a special feature. In a separate discovery, builders discovered a Roman well and other artefacts dating back 2,000 years in Caistor, Lincolnshire. The well was uncovered beneath a concrete floor as builders dug up the courtyard.
The well was originally constructed during the Roman era but later modified in the 1700s. Georgian wall panels and timber work were found at the site. The Caistor and District Trust does not currently have the funds needed to restore the well.
Top notch.
4 million renovations to restore the well. The well has been capped off again. The building where the well was uncovered is being renovated to provide retail, meeting spaces, and holiday accommodation as part of a heritage hub.
Work is expected to be completed in the summer. The contrasting preservation approaches for the two wells highlight different strategies in handling archaeological discoveries during renovations. Specific details about the Roman well artefacts and dating uncertainties remain unknown.
Impressive discovery.
Funding mechanisms and implementation timelines for both projects are also unclear.
A welcome bonus.