Saint
The Saint's Well
A prince's bones, a well, and an empty coffin.
Stand where it happened
- What's there
- A small stone well-head in a city street
- Legend from
- Medieval hagiography
- Tone
- Curious
A martyred prince was carried here from the Vikings, and his well still runs in Derby.
Alkmund was a Northumbrian prince who returned from exile and was killed around 800. His death was seen as martyrdom. He was first buried in Shropshire and then brought to Northworthy, now Derby, to escape Viking raids, and miracles were reported at his tomb. In the early 10th century his remains were moved to Shrewsbury. St Alkmund's church in Derby was demolished in 1968, and excavations found a carved stone sarcophagus, but it held only rubble and could not be linked to the saint. St Alkmund's Well, a listed holy well, survives in Well Street.