well lane history

hamble interactive

hamble and district hampshire

Well Lane Hamble

Well Lane has been at the centre of the village for centuries and near the end of the spur behind Copperhill Terrace was the public village well, which was replaced by a pump in the late 1800s.

In 1908 it was closed by the Health Authorities as the quality of the water did not meet the required standard. Fortunately a few years earlier mains water had come to Hamble.

It is reputed that the stones used to build the retaining wall along the Well Lane spur, at the rear of Copperhill Terrace, came from Henry VIII's St Andrew's Castle on Hamble Common after it became derelict.

Digging a Well

A strong round iron hoop was placed on the ground where the well was to be dub and a low brick wall was built on it.

Then the well was dug inside of it and directly under it, causing the iron hoop and the circle of bricks to be undermined.

As the well was dug deeper, the hoop would slowly sink to the bottom, and more bricks would be added to the brick lining wall at ground level.

Normally one person worked at the bottom digging the well and another was at the top removing the waste by a bucket or similar.

When the well reached the water source, and the surrounging brick wall was complete, the well was topped with a simple windlass which was usually protected by a tile roof.