This project, funded by Cadw, set out to identify and assess holy wells dating from the medieval and early post-medieval periods across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and Ceredigion. Using the Historic Environment Record (HER) as a starting point, the team created an initial list of nearly 200 sites with some form of physical remains, strong documentary evidence, or scheduled monument status. After further refinement, 188 sites were identified for desktop appraisal, with field visits made to 96 of them.
Roughly half the sites are in Pembrokeshire, reflecting both the historical importance of St. Davids as a pilgrimage centre and the influence of local historian Francis Jones, whose research formed the foundation for many of the records. The project found a wide range of conditions, from wells still in use to those neglected or lost altogether.
Importantly, the survey identified nine sites without statutory protection that may be of national or regional importance, as well as two listed buildings that could require further safeguards.
