A HISTORIC well in Longtown which has become lost in the landscape could soon be restored to its former glory.

It is believed St Michael’s Well could date back to Roman times and may be of immense interest to historians and tourists.

But it has fallen into disrepair and members of the parochial church council for Arthuret Church want to bring it back up to standard – and are due to set about finding the funding towards the project.

Hazel Thomlinson, a council member, said: “The well itself has really got into disrepair and become very overgrown over the past 10 or 20 years.

“It’s all surrounded by sandstone but the stone is in disrepair.

“We need funding to really bring it back to its former glory.”

New fencing was erected in the 1980s but the well has had little attention in recent years.

Miss Thomlinson decided something had to be done following a visit from a society whose members asked to see the well.

She said she was horrified at the overgrown state it was in.

She thinks the upgrades should be undertaken in three stages – concentrating firstly on the earthworks, then the sandstone, before looking at replacing the fencing.

Miss Thomlinson said: “The earthworks round about the well need to be taken back because the mounds of earth are slightly encroaching on the well.

“That needs funding in order to allow the well to be seen more easily.

“It is getting lost in the landscape. It’s still visible and it’s still in working order but it is in disrepair.

“It’s about time something was done. It is a heritage feature of Longtown.

“We certainly know quite a lot of people are interested.

“It would be a real little gem.”

The church itself, officially named St Michael and All Angels, was built in 1609, though there have been earlier churches on the site.

The well, which is originally thought to have been used for healing purposes, is situated off the graveyard.

The council’s intention is to apply for funding from the Beck Burn Community Fund – a £155,250 annual pot of money for community projects which will become available once a wind farm comes into operation – and to also look further afield.

Gordon Routledge, historian and vice-chairman of Arthuret Parish Council, was pleased to hear about the plans and says there is “no doubt” it needs cleaning up.

He thinks it dates back to Roman times or even to the second century as it lies on the same line as the old fort at Stanwix – Petriana – which was founded in 167AD.

“The Romans always used to make their Christian sites where there was a natural well and they used to throw gifts into the well,” he explained.

“I think between Stanwix, Arthuret and Netherby there’s a connection and it sits on a line.

“I think if Stanwix was founded in the second century, there’s a good chance Arthuret was founded in the same century.”

He said the parish council, which used to do work on it, wants to see it maintained.

But due to a squeezed budget it is unable to support the project financially.

“At the moment we don’t really have the funding,” he added.

“It’s important to tourists as well as for the church.

“The church has visitors coming from America and different places and it’s a feature that is worth preserving for tourism and local interest as well.”