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Schorne Well |
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North Marston |
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Buckinghamshire |
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Schorne Well before 2005 |
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Schorne Well Michael Finnemore working out the final details of the project |
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27th March 2005 |
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A Service of Blessing and Re-dedication of Schorne Well |
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21st May 2005 |
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Welcome and Introduction - Michael Finnemore |
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Poem - Read by Laura and Sophie Chamberlain |
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The Invocation - Revd Andy Bell, Vicar of Schorne |
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Songs and Prayers - The children of North Marston School |
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Drawing of the First Water - Sally Matthews |
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If you fill the trough with water, the devil will rise from a boot, (as shown in picture insert). |
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Vince Lilley with the figure of John Schorne in an alcove at Schorne Well and the Schorne Well signs that he expertly made. |
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The History of John Schorne's Well |
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My well is seven centuries old. |
The building fell into disrepair |
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The water, still, is clear and cold. |
And by 1900 was no longer there. |
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I found it in a year of drought |
Only the pump still stood with pride |
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When Marston folk, to drink, had nowt. |
A stone (with ring) marked the well beside. |
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It happened, as I chanced to pass, |
In '70 and '90 the well was improved |
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I struck my staff upon the grass |
But its former glory remained subdued. |
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Clear water gushed out at my feet! |
Everything stayed as before |
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"A miracle! And on our street," |
Until one day in 2004. |
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Cried all the thirsty people there. |
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They drank, then offered up a prayer. |
In October work did start |
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Using all the craftsman's art. |
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Pilgrims came from far and near |
With axe and adze and English oak |
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To cure their ills with water clear, |
A frame was made (it was bespoke). |
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And worship at my Holy shrine, |
Tudor bricks with lime and sand, |
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Up in St. Mary's Church so fine. |
Old peg tiles, cut by hand, |
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Old York stone and blue brick |
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The well, at over five feet square, |
(Some were thin and some were thick.) |
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Was always open to the air. |
For the pump, a new oak case, |
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Over the top a building stood |
Re-erected in centre place. |
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Built with stone and bricks and wood. |
A stone trough, re-cycled, too, |
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Four stone steps inside descending |
Holds the water pumped by you. |
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For drawing water without bending. |
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(All these features in plan marked out, |
In 2005 the work was done |
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By your feet, or thereabout.) |
Relief was felt by everyone. |
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The depth was almost seven feet - |
My historic well, was, in simple way, |
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Oh, what a pity it was so deep! |
Opened and blessed on 21st May. |
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Now my well is, as of old, |
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In July 1861 disaster came |
A thing of beauty to behold |
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When Catherine Watson (also known as Jane) |
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Slipped and fell into the water |
If my image you would see |
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Watched in horror by her daughter. |
Look behind you, for there I be. |
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Little Sarah, aged just three, |
I hold a boot beneath my arm |
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Called for her sister desperately. |
Into which, the Devil, I did charm. |
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Her older sister came running round |
And now that he's imprisoned there |
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Sadly to find their mother drowned. |
Peace dwells in the village and elsewhere. |
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"Accidental drowning," Mr Parrott, the coroner, said, |
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"For safety's sake, secure that shed." |
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A barred door and lock were at once applied |
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And a pump placed on the north-east side. |
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Alison Finnemore |
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