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Irons Well

Irons Well
Irons Well

A little to the north-east of Eyeworth Pond, near Fritham, is a spring beside a gravelled track once used by gunpowder carriers from a nearby factory. Fenced round with plank railings, the spring has been known as Irons Well since at least the late-18th century when it appeared on Richardson, King and Driver’s map of the New Forest.

It is shown on modern Ordnance Survey maps as Irons Well (Chalybeate), which is a reference to impregnation with iron salts that colour rusty red its bed and sides.

The waters were said to have curative properties particularly helpful for sore eyes, bad legs and other ailments, including leprosy. Consequently, the spring was also known as Lepers’ Well, and it’s thought that nearby was a Lazar House, a place of rest for those suffering from the disease.

Now, though, the only visitors are walkers and cyclists on the adjacent track, and a variety of birds that come to feed in the nearby overhanging alders.

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** New Forest ponies and other animals**
The New Forest
Commoners' ponies, cattle, pigs, sheep and donkeys are a popular part of the New Forest scene, but during 2019 agisters attended 159 road traffic accidents involving these animals, a small but disappointing increase on the 154 accidents attended in 2018.

Sadly, 58 animals were killed - 35 ponies, 13 cows, 8 donkeys and 2 sheep, whilst a further 32 were injured - 3 pigs, 9 donkeys, 11 cows and 9 ponies.

(Forty-three accidents occurred in daylight, 15 at twilight and 101 in the dark. Twenty-seven accidents were not reported by the driver involved).

Here's just one horrific example - Three donkeys killed in collision with van at notorious New Forest blackspot (Advertiser and Times)
** Always take care when driving **
Content produced by Andrew Walmsley
Content produced by Andrew Walmsley