26/05/2024
Today I visited The White Spring Temple and Well for the second time.
It is cavernous, candle lit and mysterious. A wonderful contrast to the sunlit gardens of Chalice Well of the Red Spring where they scowl at you if you drive into a disabled parking space and, when you produce your blue badge, overcompensate as you begin to ambulate on your walking aids with the offer of a mobility scooter. Clearly a guilt response, (honestly, some people). The fact is at Challis Well, until it became obvious that there was a disabled person in the vehicle, they were clearly judging negatively, with one of the most scathing over the rim of her spectacles scowls I have seen in awhile, anyway, I digress.
Today, at the White Spring, barefoot as before, I entered the Well House Temple, the custodians recognising disability, the crutches tend to give it a way, respectfully offered help with the three steep, uneven steps, but when politely declined, respectfully stepped to one side and allowed me to make my own way down.
Once inside the cool darkness, the smell of frankincense and candlelight overwhelmed my senses and as I pressed my back against the cool wall, raising my chin toward one I’ve the vaulted ceilings and leaning heavily on my crutches, I felt ‘something ‘come up from deep inside me and tears flowed. They were not tears of hurt, pain or angst, they were just a physical reaction to the vibration and overwhelming sense of peace that resonates within the space (but equally, I felt like “stuff” I no longer need, that had been deep inside was being let go of too).
The interior of the Well house Temple consists of three domed vaults 16ft high, with beautiful bowed floors - the aroma of frankincense raises the vibration and the acoustics are something else.
With its constant temperature, and the sound of the perpetually flowing water, it is a unique and sacred space.
People bathe naked here, and rightly, in my opinion, they have a no photography policy.
At least twice during the time that they are open to the public each day, they have silent times where people can meditate, without the interruption of music or chatter. However, at other times, expect to find someone standing and singing, making the most of the melodic echoes of the acoustics, someone sitting there playing a small harp or today, a Hand-Pan Tympanic drum, which was truly lovely and these gifts people bring and give of, freely, adds to the ambiance and peaceful vibe of this incredible space.
People from all over visit to appreciate this powerful place. There were visitors from various traditions and practices visiting on both the occasions I have been here and everyone respects each others practice, making space for each other.
Incredibly and unlike Chalice Well (literally over the road) at the White Spring there is no charge or expectation of donation, neither is anyone paid.
The sale of goods and chattels within the building is forbidden and there is a polite request that people do not sit in the courtyard attempting to sell their wares with a strong suggestion, that the market should be kept in the marketplace, whilst the sacred space of the White Spring should be kept sacred. ❤️
People do make donations to the White Spring for the upkeep costs and to keep access free for all. And should a monetary gift be offered it would be accepted kindly and respectfully, although it is preferred that no money is exchanged within the sacred space. Financial contributions can be made online or by post.
As we left the White Spring, we filled several large bottles with the delicious, cold, unadulterated, calcium, rich water that flows from the spring that bursts through the ground on the hillside above the well house.
The spring water runs constantly through a tap, free to whom ever wishes the take the waters and then drains back into the Wellhouse Temple where it fills the bathing pools that have been built within.
Back over the road at the Challis Well, after they’ve gawped at you in an accusatorial fashion, they take £5.50 per adult from you, as you enter. The gardens are beautiful and well kept with lovely mature trees and tended flowerbeds, there is a meadow on the hillside where you can take your picnic and there are benches aplenty where lots of self-entitled, self righteous people spread their belongings and then sit on the grass doing their yoga exercises, so you couldn’t sit down if you wanted to. Water from the red spring has been channelled down the hillside through the gardens have into various pools and the Well (pictured) is where Joseph of Arimathea (allegedly) buried the holy grail, and a spring appeared.
There is an overpriced gift shop full of all the stuff you can buy in the town, except at The Well, there is a minimum 25% additional charge. You can also buy your glass bottle to fill from the public spring that’s actually on the road side, not within the gardens, and is literally opposite the White Spring Temple.
I will return to the White Spring again and again without question and when I can, we’ll make a donation. I won’t ever bother going to Challis Well again. The ethos of creating sacred space may be the same but Won seem to have it right and the other seem to not. 
