Nanny Ward's Well, Grinton, Swaledale
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Nanny Ward's Well (Spring)
Nanny Ward's Well, Grinton, Coast to Coast
Nanny Ward's Well is found in the lower fields of Harker Side, above Grinton, where two footpaths meet, i.e. the path descending from John Moss's Chair and that ascending from Grinton along a field wall about a hundred yards or so to the west of the Grinton Road. The spring at this location, however, takes an underground route to where it re-springs, where pictured. A path to the rear of Manor Farm and Neddy House at the south side of Grinton Church leads to the Gill. Where they meet the Gill sinks, to continue its course to the River Swale underground.
Nanny Ward's Gill, Grinton
The upper stretch of the Nanny Ward's Gill is often merely a dried mass of small stones. Whilst the spring or well issues from the ground at the top of the loose stones, the spring head is actually close to the building at the top of the image, where two footpath's meet, and from there flows underground to the spring pictured.
Going Underground
The route of Nanny's Gill disappears underground until reaching the wall striking west. Here it is culverted into the opposite field.
Nanny Ward's Gill
The Gill re-issues from the culvert in the wall and from here there is generally a good flow of water finding its way through the dense grassy field side.
Water Plants
The change to water vegetation is obvious at the side of the wall, where the Gill can be heard below the leafy covering. Where the path from Grinton meets the Gill there is a Water Sink, and the Gill disappears, presumably to make its way the final 100m underground to the River Swale.
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