St. Ann's Well, Malvern
During the early 20th century, the now-defunct Burrows company bottled and sold Malvern Water from this source under the "St Ann's Well" brand.
St Ann's Well is a natural spring which Palmer suggests may have been dedicated to Anu, a Celtic water goddess.
[3] According to James Nott one of the most important events in the history of Malvern was the arrival of St. Werstan, who established a cell on the hillside near St. Ann's Well.
The chief aim of the publication was to raise money to make improvements to the primitive building at St Ann's Well.
The Well House was built in 1813[10] and was owned by Lady Emily Foley who granted the public free access to the spring water.
A plaque above the spout reads: Drink of this crystal fountain And praise the loving Lord Who from the rocky mountain This living stream out-poured Fit emblem of Holy Fount That flows from God's eternal mount This marble tablet was placed at St Ann's Well by the Rt Hon Lady Emily Foley of the Manor of Gt Malvern Oct 1892.
[7] George Pullen, a blind musician, earned his living playing the harmonium and dulcitone almost every day for 50 years from about 1880 to entertain visitors to St Ann’s Well.
[14] From 1932 to around 1937 the potter Muriel Bell, a former student of Bernard Leach, had her studio at St. Anne's Well,[15] making utility stoneware articles.
[17] In 1963 the Malvern Hills Conservators made the decision to demolish the "lump of Victoriana" known as St Ann's Well.
John Betjeman, poet and founding member of The Victorian Society, expressed concern about the plans for the building and his support and strong public feeling for St Ann's Well convinced the Conservators to change their minds.
[19] In October 2009, the Malvern Hills Conservators announced plans to take St Ann's Well cafe back under their own management on expiry of the tenancy on 31 March 2010 to achieve a long-standing goal of providing a visitor information centre.
Thirty-six members of the public attended the meeting and asked a total of 26 questions regarding plans for St Ann's Well.
[34][35] Its Terms of Reference were to inquire into the events surrounding the renewal of the St Ann’s Well Cafe lease due for renewal in 2010 and subsequent events leading up to the formation of the Inquiry Committee on 1 December 2011 and make recommendations arising from the findings of the inquiry to ensure a more effective governance model for the Board.
[37] In April 2012 the committee published a list of over 50 questions it felt needed answering[38][39] and the chairman of the board contacted the Charity Commission about his concerns over the cost of the dispute.
[40] At a Special Meeting of the Board the Conservators voted to "acknowledge the Report and its findings of major failure", "...recognise the need for reform"[41] and "...extend a formal apology to John Redman, his family, his staff, members of the general public and all those affected by these events as well as the staff of Malvern Hills Conservators past and present.
[44] British author John Michell wrote that Whiteleaved Oak is the centre of the "Circle of Perpetual Choirs" and is equidistant from Glastonbury and Stonehenge.
[29] Dick McBride, American beat poet and City Lights store manager, celebrated the publication of Remembered America (2004) with a reading in the Octagon room.
