Keyne

St Keyne's Holy Well

Saint Keyne or Cain was a late 5th century holy woman in the West Country.

Keyne was a pious virgin, one of the many daughters of King Brychan of Brycheiniog (Brecon). She lived at Keynsham in Somerset and St Keyne in Cornwall, in the late 5th century, and left her name to a church and to a well in the latter whose waters are said to give the upper hand to whichever of a bridal pair first drinks of them after the wedding.

Plaque

The plaque next to the well describes the spell which Saint Keyne cast upon the water of the well. The plaque reads: "The legend of Saint Keyne Well. Saint Keyne was a princess who lived about 600 AD. She laid on the waters of this well a spell thus described by Carew in 1602 AD—'The quality that man or wife whom chance or choice attains first of this sacred spring to drink thereby the mastery gains.'"

Her feast is celebrated on 8th October.

External links

• Catholic Online: St. Keyne