TWO historical researchers have unearthed evidence of a previously unknown "holy" well in Malvern.

Cora Weaver and Bruce Osborne, of the Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells, say the well was on the site of a house on Foley Terrace, above the town centre.

And they say that it could be time to find an official name for the now-vanished water source.

Mrs Weaver said the well was connected with a monk named Werstan, who came to Malvern and founded what was later to become Great Malvern Priory. The site he chose was at the top of the 99 Steps, where the house called Bello Sguardo now stands.

"A spring of pure water was essential for the monks' survival and 19th century auction particulars confirm that there was indeed a spring of pure water on the site," she said.

Werstan was later canonised and is commemoriated in the Founder's Window of Great Malvern Priory.

"St Werstan's spring lay directly below St Ann's Well and was probably piped underground after mains water was laid to Bello Sguardo. The spring was never officially named - perhaps it should be."