900-Year-Old Holy Well Found Under London Building Still has Drinkable Water

Around the world, to all people, springs of fresh water are special places. Officials recently announced that a spring well with clean, pure water that is fit to drink was discovered in the basement of Australia House, the nation’s diplomatic mission, in London.

The well may date back 900 years and is among 20 or so around the city that have been covered by buildings and roads, an article in ABC says. This well is one of the few that can still be accessed.

The diplomatic building, which houses the high commission, passport and immigration services, is on The Strand and is situated over the remnants of the Fleet River—a major waterway in London in Roman times until it became polluted and much smaller.

“It comes from the Fleet, which is the river now covered by streets. And you'll know the name Fleet Street which was named after it. It's now a subterranean creek. These wells were of great significance, particularly back in the Middle Ages,” High Commissioner Alexander Downer told ABC. “They were used for ceremonial purposes and plays were performed around the well. And as a result of that this part of London evolved as an area where theatres were built.”

Mr. Downer said a medieval monk wrote about the well, describing it as “sweet, wholesome and pure.”

The ABC had the water tested by a scientific lab, which determined it was clean and free from E. coli, Enterococci and Clostridium perfringens.

An employee of Australia House, Duncan Howitt, told the ABC he drank a cup of the water about seven years ago, when a visitor from the Canadian High Commission encouraged it