Wells and Springs

Wells and other natural water sources are often the oldest pieces of human heritage in a community still in use, and there are several found around Newfoundland and Labrador. They are sometimes "true" wells (holes dug in the ground and walled with rocks), pools kept open by generations of users, barrels sunk into boggy ground or pond-sides, or springs where water runs out of the ground. Many of these are still used today, for different reasons, and there is a rich heritage surrounding their use.

Traditional knowledge is widespread in the province, and traditional watering places have often been imbued with layers of meaning. Most wells, both public ones and private, are treated by local people as special and nearly sacred spaces that should be protected from despoiling. Many have oral history associated with them. This collection of information about wells and springs will preserve and protect the memories surrounding these traditional water sources.

Check out the Wells and Springs collection on the DAI