On the 1844 OS map of Anglezarke I have spotted the notation for 'James Yates' Well' which is clearly marked with a small extension off Limestone Clough.
I have walked past this spot many times. It is where the trackway from Lead Clough Mines ends and opens up into a clearing. The path then leads onto shooting huts which are no longer visible. I have always wondered why the track stops at this point, as, apart from a clearing, there is nothing obvious there.
The Chorley Standared states in 1864 that...
The petrifying spring, James Yate’s Well, was formerly in great repute. Before railways were invented to carry people to Buxton and other places, the lame, the half and blind for scores of miles flocked to Anglezarke to drink and bathe in its, I believe justly celebrated waters.
Access to the site At the most obvious point to attempt a crossing over the brook, hidden in the undergrowth, there are a series of wooden beams that act as steps. These lead to a platform next to some large stones bridging the brook.
It is not the easiest of crossings today, but maybe the large stones have moved over time.
Results of Drone Survey of James Yates Well - 1st Jan 2018
On the 1st January 2018 a 15 minute drone flight covered the area marked on the map. Video footage was taken upstream and downstream and 25 vertical photographs were take from different points over the area. I also crossed the stream on foot, finding the remains of wooden steps on the north bank. The rectangular depression identified in the following analysis was visible but very overgrown.
Fig2: Orthometric image
The orthometric image produced shows the mossy clearing on the south side of the brook and another mossy area which was seen to be a pile of stones. The rectangular depression can be seen by discoloured vegetation as can the drain.
Fig3: Elevation Hillshade
This elevation model of the area give us our first hint of the location of the well. Behind the green mossy bank, there is a rectangular depression and to the east is a drain into the brook as shown on the 1844 OS map.
Fig4: NDVI vegetation health analysis
A NDVI vegetation algorithm was used to produce a vegetation heath analysis. In the area of the rectangular depression, there was indeed a change in vegetation showing.
The drain is not as clear.
One of the techniques I use to compare the different ouputs from the Digital Elevation Models created from the drone images, is to create an animated GIF file of images (all same size and of exactly the same area).
Using this .gif animation of the above images you can make better sense of the above NDVI image.
Keep your eye on a yellow vegetation patch (I park my mouse pointer on it) and locate it on the aerial shot and elevation image.
5cm Contour map of the site showing the rectangular depression.
A 'slice' was cut from the 3D model which shows the brook left with the land rising up on the southern side of the brook. You can see the well breaking the slope on the right of the elevation.
The rectangular depression shows as dark brown vegetation centre of this shot
Conclusion James Yates Well was probably a rectangular stone lined pool, similar to the spa at Hempstead Hall only a few miles to the east.
It is possible that there were buildings associated with it. Wooden steps were seen 10m downstream of the Well and close by is a large pile of stones. By the stones are some larger blocks buried in the undergrowth.
It could be that there is building material and the footings of buildings just in front of the Well causing the green mossy area.