IT’S likely that the healing properties attributed to Malvern spring water have been known about for thousands of years.

Certainly, by the 11th century, springs in what is now Malvern Wells were regularly visited, some used for treating specific ailments such as leprosy, ‘King’s Evil’ (extrapulmonary tuberculosis) and sore eyes.

The spring with the greatest reputation for curing eye problems was the Eye Well.

This is a small, spring-fed pool on the upper east-facing slopes of the Malvern Hills around 100 metres above the Holy Well (and possibly the source of the Holy Well water).

According to Malvern Waters’ website, “one common problem that the Eye Well addressed was the effect of the smokey atmosphere in cottages in winter with open fires”.

In his book The Malvern Water Cure, Dr John Harcup explains that a woman with eyes so inflamed that she could not see visited a respected physician.

“He advised her to visit the Eye Well and following a week of bathing her eyes in its water her sight was ‘so much recovered that she could see a flea leaping on her bed’.”

Eye Well water was also purported to treat other ailments such as diseased livers and kidney stones.

In the 18th century a small building was erected near the well where visitors could rest but that has long since gone.

In fact, the Eye Well’s flow used to be far more prolific than it is now.

Unfortunately, in the 19th century, while attempting to pipe water from the well to his home, a resident struck the ground with a pick-axe only to see the water disappear completely.

According to a 1930 publication called Wells and Springs of Worcestershire, “Mr Bennett says that owing to such experiences, owners of springs in Malvern are always very careful how they interfere with springs. It is the brashy nature of Malvern rock which causes such an occurrence.”

It’s probably true that in the past people were very careful about how they ‘interfered with springs’ but sadly nowadays that is not always the case.

The fact that spring water is no longer an integral and essential part of people’s everyday lives means that often the features are neglected or polluted, sometimes covered up or filled in and occasionally lost altogether.

Fortunately, although somewhat disrupted, the flow to the Eye Well was eventually restored.

Wells and Springs of Worcestershire notes that “The water oozes out of the Archean rock but, owing to the path functioning as a dam, the ‘well’ is now simply a little morass”. Today the water emerges quite slowly but at least it’s still there.

The Eye Well is always dressed for the annual May Day water festival and throughout the year you may see flowers placed by the pool, continuing the ancient custom of giving thanks for the water.

From Breviary of the Eye by Richard Bannister in 1622.

“A little more I’ll of their curing tell, How they help sore eyes with a new-found well.

Great speech of Malvern Hills was lately reported, Unto which spring people in troops resorted.”

Our columnist Carly Tinkler is the president of Malvern Spa Association.