Ladyewell Shrine

 2010 Diocesan Pilgrimage to Ladyewell Poster

Lancaster Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady and the Martyrs:

An Account :

The story of the roots of Ladyewell is an ancient one, though its history in more recent times begins around the year 1100. A.D.  The owner of a merchant galley, Fergus Maguire (son of the Irish chieftain of Fermanagh) was returning in his ship to his native land. The galley was full of wares traded from remote parts of the known world.However, the Irish Sea had no respect for man or his riches, and it began to toss the boat about upon its turbulent waters. The sailors used all of their craft to steady the ship, but finally exhausted by their battle to make headway in the stormy tempest, the crew threw down their oars in desperation, resigning themselves to be swallowed up by the sea, and certain death. 

Fergus however was resolute, and continued to man the helm, until with one mighty surge the sea heaved, and wrested the wheel from Fergus' grasp.Refusing to despair, he besought in prayer the aid of Almighty God. vowing that in the event of their deliverance from harm, he would perform some pious act in thanksgiving.The storm did not abate, but the ship traversed it safely, and finally reached a sheltered estuary to rest. Exhausted by the battle, Fergus fell into a deep sleep, and heard a heavenly voice crying: 

 "Go to Fernyhalgh and there thou shalt find a crabtree having coreless fruit hanging over a shrine, there build me a chapel." 

So pressing was the vision, that on awaking, Fergus was determined to search for the place called Fernyhalgh. He made enquiries around the then small port of Liverpool as to its whereabouts, but none could help him. He continued his search far and wide to little avail, and suffered many a rebuff.Weary from his travels, Fergus paused by a small house where a lady's maid stood in the gateway. She appeared agitated as if awaiting someone's return. She had taken the cows to the pastures that day, and had been late in bringing them home. On offering her his assistance, Fergus was declined, so he left her to her vigil and went into the house to rest. 

He was soon disturbed by raised voices; it was the matron of the house scolding the maid for not returning sooner. "Nay mistress" said the girl," It is not my fault, the Dun cow, who is never quiet at feeding, strayed further than usual. I found her at Fernyhalgh." To prove the truth of her story, the maid presented a gnarled branch of an apple tree (which she said had broken off) taken from "near the spring."  The branch was almost bare of leaves, and held but a few crab apples. On examining them, Fergus found they were coreless, just as he had been told in the vision. 

At last Fergus had found the place named in his vision. On enquiring of its whereabouts, the matron replied it was but three miles from the house.
The next day, Fergus, and Hilda the maid set out for Fernyhalgh. As they travelled, Hilda spoke of her own home at the edge of the Hollow in which the well lay, and how on the death of her parents her neighbours had been most kind to her. 

When at last they reached the well, Fergus assured himself that it was the right place, and picking up a large stone found that it was inscribed with the image of a mother and child. At once he realised that Our Lady had been honoured here before, and that it was her wish to have this become a place of prayer once again.  In thanksgiving, Fergus and Hilda kneeled in prayer, the first of countless more devoted pilgrims over the centuries to visit and pray at the Holy Shrine. 

At Ladyewell, Fergus built his chapel for Mary, and the Ladywell House became instrumental as a place of devotion to the Mass during times of persecution in later centuries.The Shrine of Ladyewell is situated in a secluded part of the Lancashire countryside, steeped in history and legend. It is a place where many English Martyrs once trod, and scenes of struggle for the Catholic faith took place.  

Ladyewell means "Our Lady of the Well," though the origins of the well are ancient; and many know the place as "Fernyhalgh" an Anglo-Saxon name meaning "Ancient well."It is thought that this ancient shrine was first Christianised and converted into a shrine of Our Lady, by the King of Northumbria when he was baptised on Easter Day in the year of Our Lord, 627.  However, it seems for reasons unknown, the well fell into a time of obscurity and was forgotten for some hundred years or more.

Today Ladyewell is still a holy and hallowed place, where many relics of the saints are housed, and many pilgrims come to pray.
Thankfully,Holy Mass is still regularly celebrated in the house, church and grounds at Ladyewell.

Visitors to the Shrine and Exhibition are most welcome but larger groups of pilgrims are requested to telephone in advance.

Director: Fr Tom Hoole 

Contact Details:

Ladyewell House,
Fernyhalgh Lane,
Fernyhalgh,
Preston
PR2 5ST

Tel: 01772 700181 (Shrine) 

Tel: 01772 862231 (St Mary's Presbytery)  

Email: admin@Ladyewellshrine.co.uk

New website: http://www.ladyewellshrine.co.uk/