The mysterious West Midlands Leper Well that has survived for centuries

Most motorists pass the Leper Well at Gunstone without ever realising it is there. Yet this small, brick-lined pool has been associated with medieval medicine, local folklore and centuries of history – and is protected today as both a Scheduled Monument and a Grade II listed structure.

The well's story stretches back hundreds of years. Its sulphurous water, famous for its unmistakable "rotten egg" smell, was once believed to possess healing powers. In medieval times, sufferers of leprosy and other skin conditions are said to have travelled to the site hoping its mineral-rich water would cure their illnesses.

According to local tradition, those seeking healing would first receive a blessing from the priest at St Nicholas' Church in Codsall before making the journey across Moat Brook to bathe in the well's waters. While historians cannot prove the ritual took place exactly as legend describes, parish records and local evidence suggest the tradition has deep roots in the area.

The well was first documented in 1686 by Staffordshire naturalist Robert Plot in The Natural History of Staffordshire. He described the strongly sulphurous spring in remarkable detail, noting that its smell could sometimes be detected from around 20 yards away, particularly during winter or before rain.

There is also long-standing speculation that a medieval leper hospital once stood nearby. A neighbouring farmhouse, still known as Leper House, may occupy or lie close to its former site, although archaeologists have never found definitive proof.

The structure visitors see today is thought to date largely from the 18th century. Built in an oval shape, the brick-lined well features stone steps leading down into the water, allowing those seeking treatment to bathe rather than simply collect water.

For decades the monument disappeared beneath dense vegetation, becoming almost invisible to anyone walking or driving past.

That changed in 2024 and 2025 when volunteers from the Codsall & Bilbrook History Society and Brewood Civic Society painstakingly cleared away decades of ivy, brambles and undergrowth. Working alongside Historic England, South Staffordshire Council and Chillington Estate, they restored the site's visibility and installed an information plaque explaining its remarkable past.

Today, the Leper Well remains one of Staffordshire's most intriguing hidden landmarks. Although no longer visited in search of miraculous cures, it offers a rare glimpse into a time when faith, folklore and medicine were closely intertwined.

What other local landmarks should we visit? Send your suggestions to [email protected]