St Gover’s Well

In 1856, a seemingly ordinary spring in Kensington Gardens received an extraordinary name: St Gover’s Well. The First Commissioner of Works, later known as Lord Llanover, bestowed this moniker upon it. Why St Gover? The name harkens back to a 6th-century hermit, the patron saint of a church in Llanover, Wales. This Welsh church, situated on land owned by Lord Llanover, boasted eight wells in its churchyard. Perhaps inspired by this watery abundance, he decided to honor the saint by naming the London spring after him. St Gover’s Well soon became more than just a spring. It evolved into a public drinking fountain, offering refreshment to visitors of Kensington Gardens. Interestingly, historical accounts tell of an old woman who set up shop beside St Gover’s Well. She sold the very waters of the well, likely touting their refreshing qualities or even hinting at more mystical properties. The well we see today is a modern iteration, a handsome stone sculpture erected in the 1970s. This sculpture covers the original spring, but an inscription preserves the story of St Gover. The inscription reads, “This drinking fountain marks the site of an ancient spring, which in 1856 was named St Govor’s Well by the First Commissioner of Works later to become Lord Llandover. Saint Govor, a sixth century hermit, was the patron saint of a church in Llandover which had eight wells in its churchyard.” St Gover’s Well quietly exists in Kensington Gardens. It serves as a reminder of a time when even a simple spring could hold significance and become a part of the local lore. A testament to a Welsh saint and the whims of a Victorian lord.