Laleston

The ancient well

The Ancient Well is at the top of Well street, Post code CF31 0LE and behind the Great House. The well dates way back in time and thought to be the best preserved well in Wales, it was the main water supply in the village which was only opened for 2 hours a day, if more water was needed it would have to be fetched from the local ponds in the area this task was given to the children, some of the properties had large water tanks in the lofts that would collect rain water. One gentleman born in 1938 can remember fetching water from the well every day. The Well was still being relied on by many as late as the 1960's as piped water only began to be piped into the village in 1928.
It has a large stone structure of both lime and sandstone dating back to late Victorian period on the higher end to early Elizabethan on the end over the well itself, the walls and  capping are laid on a brick arched structure, a metal pump at one end with a shaped stone bowl below once pumped water from below, there is an entrance to the right which gives access via 14 worn stone steps to the well below, which is protected by a metal grill. The water which is cold and sweet travels from high up in the Brecon Beacons and travels a long meandering journey before reaching the Laleston Well.
In the 1900's the stones were covered by a mound of grass covered earth, which the local children played on.