1st June St Wites Day

 The first day of June marks the start of summer, and St Wites day. 

Also known as St Candida , she is an important historical figure in Dorset; the patron saint of the county, a martyr and known healer and wise woman. She killed  when 15,000 Danish Vikings raided the settlement of Charmouth in 831 AD.

Her shrine, containing a lead casket and her remains, is located in the parish church of St Candid and Holy Cross in Whitchurch Canonicorum in the Marshwood Vale between Bridport and Lyme Regis.

On the casket was a Latin inscription- ‘Here lies the remains of St Wite.’

In the medieval period her shrine became one of the most visited pilgrimage sites. 

Even today a small organised pilgrimage still takes place on this day. Approx 8 mile walk around the leafy green lanes, byways and hollow ways of the area, taking in other sacred sites along the way and up onto Golden Cap. The well known sunken hollow ways of Shute's Lane and Hell Lane is also on the route. These lanes are common in the west country due to the underlying rock being soft sandstone. Worn down over hundreds of years by the passage of feet, livestock and wagons; the weather also plays an important part in the formation of these lanes, the deep sides funnel the falling rain from the surrounding land which then pours down the narrow space. At times the lanes can become a rushing stream wearing the soft sandstone down further.

Shute's Lane and Hell Lane, which are about ten  metres below the surrounding country-side, are believed to be about 300 years old although others date back centuries starting as drovers or pilgrims paths .

 If you wish to immerse yourself in  part of the amazing atmosphere of the walk take a look at my You tube video of Hell Lane- it’s amazing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49P1o6YOXEI

The pilgrimage starts and ends at the Holy Shrine of St Wite at the church of St Candida and the Holy Cross.

There is a small holy well just a few miles from the church associated with Saint Wite at  Chardown Hill, Morcombelake. It was  first documented in 1630  and  is well hidden at the side of a public footpath and easy to miss in the wild flowers and bushes. Why this particular well was associated with her I’m not sure, I mean did she sit down on the grass and water miraculously bubbled forth from the turf...? 

Anyway apparently the spring water is used for healing eye complaints. 

We stumbled across the well recently on one of our many rambles around the area, nearly missed it except for our dogs thirsty from the long walk managed to find the tiny bubbling spring. Not one of the most picturesque wells of the area however.