One of the most beautiful sacred springs in Wales is St. Seiriol’s Well, located on the site of a sixth-century monastery on Anglesey Island.
On the eastern tip of Anglesey Island lies St. Seiriol’s Well, a picturesque holy well said to have healing properties. It’s associated with St. Seiriol, a king’s son who in the sixth-century founded a monastery here and became its first abbot.
A charming story associated with St. Seiriol is that he liked to visit his friend St. Cybi, who lived in a monastery on the other end of the island. They walked to meet each other weekly at Llanerchymedd in the center of the island. Coming from Holyhead, St. Cybi faced the rising sun in the morning and the setting sun in the afternoon, while St. Seiriol had the sun at his back both ways. As a result, St. Cybi was known as Cybi the Dark (since he had a tan) and Seiriol was known as Seiriol the Fair.
The well continues to have many visitors, judging from the number of coins that have been thrown into it. It’s a sweet spot to contemplate and pray—and maybe even to receive a miraculous healing.
After visiting the well, be sure to tour the adjacent Penmon Priory Church of St. Seiriol. This active parish church includes the remains of a priory that dates back to the thirteenth century. It was probably built at the time the original Celtic monastery was re-organized as an Augustinian priory.
Inside the church, take note of two carved crosses from the tenth century. The crosses once stood at the entrance to the Augustinian priory.
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Google Map for St. Seiriol’s Well
Lori Erickson is one of America’s top travel writers specializing in spiritual journeys. She’s the author of books that include Holy Rover, Near the Exit, The Soul of the Family Tree, and Every Step Is Home. Her website Spiritual Travels features holy sites around the world.
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