A 1300-year-old custom is about to end at Oswestry, Shropshire. Here in 642 Oswald, King of Northumbria and a Christian, fought a battle with Penda, the pagan King of Mercia, and was killed. The long two-handed sword of his enemy smote off Oswald's head. Legend says that nn eagle carried off the head, and that where the bird dropped it a healing spring jetted up. From that day to this ! people have gone to drink at King Oswald's Well. At first the visit lo the well was a pious pilgrimage, or a belief that the water could bestow some good on the drinker, but lately it was a custom which was half a joke. The Oswestry town council have decided that it is not healthy for many people to drink from the same cup, and they are not going to furnish a cup for the well.
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Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20904, 11 July 1933, Page 6
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146Untitled Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20904, 11 July 1933, Page 6
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