Location: Above the Rushey Valley, at 1036 feet.
Description: A spring emerging from the Pre-Cambrian bedrock at about the 300 metre contour.

In the 1880s this charming spring was described as 'a little wayside spring' just above Prospect Point.[1] High up on the eastern side of the hills near the Rushey Valley, this is one of the highest sources in the Malvern Hills. It was once much visited by water cure patients and is well worth the climb.

To get there, turn left at the front of St Ann's Well and take the path that runs above the turf-roofed toilet block. This takes you on the eastern side of the hills with a magnificent view over the town. At the first 'junction' take the small path upwards. Follow this path until the next junction and turn right. After approximately 200 metres you will see the spring in a rocky outcrop on your left. The stream runs a short distance before being swallowed underground, re-emerging approximately 100 metres to the north of the spring at the head of the boulder-strewn Rushey Valley, which slopes sharply downhill. From the Dripping Well there are superb views of the Severn flood plain.

The Rushey Valley has always been a major source of water for Great Malvern. In the early nineteenth century it was contained for private supplies and was later used to charge the public mains via a tank just below the spring. Rushey Valley water also feeds the Poolend Spouts.

 

Illustration:
1. The Dripping Well in mid winter including icicles.

Footnotes:

[1] Norman May's Guide to Malvern, Norman May & Co, London and Malvern (n.d, c.1886), p.94.

 

The map alongside is a small section of our more comprehensive map of the area. For the complete map together with a description and history of this site see "Celebrated Springs of the Malvern Hills" (2012).

 

Click on Website below or the top banner to go to the DISCOVERY TRAIL INDEX of springs and wells.

Celebrated Springs of 
THE MALVERN HILLS  

A definitive work that is the culmination of 20 years researching the springs and wells of the Malvern Hills, published by Phillimore. This is the ideal explorers guide enabling the reader to discover the location and often the astounding and long forgotten history of over 130 celebrated springs and wells sites around the Malvern Hills. The book is hard back with dust cover, large quarto size with lavish illustrations and extended text. Celebrated Springs contains about 200 illustrations and well researched text over a similar number of pages, together with seven area maps to guide the explorer to the locations around the Malvern Hills. It also includes details on the long history of bottling water in the Malvern Hills.

Written by Bruce Osborne and Cora Weaver, this book is available on-line for £15.00 (delivered UK) - click Malvern Bookshop on the green panel top left. Alternatively send a cheque payable to Cora Weaver with your name and address to 4 Hall Green, Malvern, Worcs. WR14 3QX.