Royal Pilgrims & Visitors to St Winefride's Well
1189 Richard I Richard I, the Lionheart, made a pilgrimage to the Well.
1416 Henry V Following his victory at Agincourt, Henry V paid a thanksgiving visit to
the Well: 'The King, with great reverence, went on foot in pilgrimage
from Shrewsbury to St Winefride's Well in North Wales' (Adam of Usk,
"Chronicle".)
1461 Edward IV According to the Welsh poet Tudor Aled, Edward IV came
on pilgrimage, when he placed a pinch of earth taken from beside the
Well upon his crown.
1686 James II and Queen Mary Beatrice
On 29th August James II and Queen Mary Beatrice came on pilgrimage
to the Well, to pray for an heir; according to Thomas Pennant (Whitford
& Holywell, 1796, 230) the Jesuits then in charge of the Well presented
the King with a present of the very shift in which his Great Grand
Mother Mary Stuart lost her head.
1828 Princess Victoria and King Leopold of Belgium
Princess Victoria, staying in Holywell, with her uncle King Leopold of
Belgium, visited the Well.
2005 HRH The Duchess of Gloucester
14 October: visit of HRH The Duchess of Gloucester to St Winefride's
Well and the Museum.
2021 HRH The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles
1189 Richard I Richard I, the Lionheart, made a pilgrimage to the Well.
1416 Henry V Following his victory at Agincourt, Henry V paid a thanksgiving visit to
the Well: 'The King, with great reverence, went on foot in pilgrimage
from Shrewsbury to St Winefride's Well in North Wales' (Adam of Usk,
"Chronicle".)
1461 Edward IV According to the Welsh poet Tudor Aled, Edward IV came
on pilgrimage, when he placed a pinch of earth taken from beside the
Well upon his crown.
1686 James II and Queen Mary Beatrice
On 29th August James II and Queen Mary Beatrice came on pilgrimage
to the Well, to pray for an heir; according to Thomas Pennant (Whitford
& Holywell, 1796, 230) the Jesuits then in charge of the Well presented
the King with a present of the very shift in which his Great Grand
Mother Mary Stuart lost her head.
1828 Princess Victoria and King Leopold of Belgium
Princess Victoria, staying in Holywell, with her uncle King Leopold of
Belgium, visited the Well.
2005 HRH The Duchess of Gloucester
14 October: visit of HRH The Duchess of Gloucester to St Winefride's
Well and the Museum.
2021 HRH The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles