Wilton Water

By Mike Tanner

In the summer of 2002 whilst we were doing building work at Cliff Farm we decided to lift a large mill stone, which the previous owner Clive Campbell had told us was covering a well. As the JCB lifted the stone all was revealed - a magnificent circular stone-built construction, which seemed to go down and down.

The water level was seven foot below and I found a pole to test the depth. This just kept on going, but eventually after two extensions were added the bottom was reached – twenty-six foot down. The water looked crystal clear so we lowered a milk bottle and gathered a sample. In my excitement I took a swig, it tasted beautiful and fresh. On reflection and after some sarcastic comments from our friendly local builders, I wondered if I would be struck down by some dreaded lurgi! The hours passed and I survived. After all, I thought, Wilton people had used these wells for centuries before the days of the tap. Later I resolved to do more investigation into these village water sources.

I knew of other wells and pumps in the village but was delighted to find that the Ordnance Survey map of 1892 recorded many of them:

OS 1892 1:2500 CLIX 14

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