Black Penny Wall Well in the Forest of Dean

Black Penny Wall Well (Forest of Dean Trail - Stop 1)



This was probably commonly used as a drinking place by travellers through the Forest. Its importance is indicated by the way it has been lined with stonework. The name is a corruption of Blackberry.











Around the well are rushes, foxgloves, and plants of hard-fern. Rushes grow only in wet places. Their leaves and stems, like onions, are hollow. Can you see how greenish flowers are set on the stems a few inches below the tip? Dried rushes were strewn on the floor as carpets in the Middle Ages, and bunched and soaked in grease, were also used as lamps.








In the water a green scum can usually be seen. This is the algae, a primitive form of plant life.

The spring is caused by water collecting between a layer of clay and a layer of sandstone above, and flows out here where the two layers surface.

This text was written by B. V. Cave of the Wilderness Wildlife Centre Mitcheldean for the Forestry Commission 'Boy's Grave and Forest Trail'.

Black Penny Wall Well

The blue fairy was sat upon a stone crying. She was so pleased to see Bowsie that she didn't notice that Emma and Jane were there too.

'Oh Bowsie. I'm so glad you've come today! ' said the blue fairy, in a voice like the tinkling of little bluebells.

Emma and Jane had forgotten that when they entered a fairy circle, they could understand every word that Bowsie said. Normally, his voice sounded like two high pitched squeaks, 'EE EEE'.

They were surprised when they heard Bowsie say, 'What is the matter Bluebell? Why are you crying?'

Just at that moment an elf stepped from behind a stone and said, 'Be careful Bluebell! There are two TALL PEOPLE in the circle!'

Emma and Jane looked around searching for the TALL PEOPLE. Then they realized that the elf was talking about them!