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Minor Queries with Answers.
_Ruin near St. Asaph, North Wales._--About two miles from St. Asaph, in
Flintshire, near to a beautiful trout stream, called, I think, the Elway,
stands an old ruin of some ecclesiastical edifice. There is not very much
of it now standing, but the form of the windows still exists. I have in
vain looked in handbooks of the county for an account of it, but I have
seen none that allude to it in any way. It is very secluded, being hidden
by trees; and can only be approached by a footpath. In the centre of the
edifice, there is a well of most beautiful water, supplied from some hidden
spring; and from the bottom of which bubbles of gas are constantly
ascending to the surface. The well is divided by a large stone into two
parts, one evidently intended for a bath. The peasantry in the
neighbourhood call it the Virgin Mary's Well, and ascribe the most
astonishing cures to bathing in its waters. I could not, however, find out
what it was. Some said it was a nunnery, and that the field adjoining had
been a burial-ground; but all seemed remarkably ignorant about it, and
seemed rather to avoid speaking about it; but, from what I could gather,
there was some wild legend respecting it: but, being unacquainted with the
language, I could not learn what it was. I should feed obliged if any of
your correspondents could give me a description of it, and any information
or legend connected with it. Near to it are the celebrated "Kaffen Rocks,"
which {376} show undoubted evidence, from the shells and shingle embedded
in their strata, of having at some period been submerged; and the caverns
which exist in them are very large, and bones of hyenas and other animals
are to be found in them. They are, however, very difficult to find without
a guide, and there are very few persons in the neighbourhood who seem to
know anything about them. They are very well worthy of a visit, and the
surrounding scenery is beautiful in the extreme. I shall be happy to put
any person in the way of finding them, should a desire be expressed in your
pages.