Freeman's Well, Alnwick

Freeman's Well is a muddy bog located about 3½ miles to the south-west of the town of Alnwick and a short distance south-east of Freeman's Hill Farm. Local legend says that on his way to Alnwick, King John fell with his horse, into a bog, whist riding across Alnwick Moor (aka Aydon Forest). In his anger at the inhabitants of Alnwick for not keeping the roads over the moor in better repair, the King commanded that heseforth, all who were to be made freemen of Alnwick should pass through the bog (which became known as Freeman's Well) on St. Mark's Day (25th April). A clause in the town's charter was made to this effect. When any new freemen are to be made, the rill of water which feeds the bog is dammed up for a day or two, then released to flood the bog in time to make it a muddy morass in time for the ceremony!

The commoncouncilmen [of Alnwick] are chosen from among the resident freemen of the several incorporated companies or fraternities, ten in number, viz., the Cordwainers, Skinners and Glovers, Merchants, Tanners, Weavers, Blacksmiths, Butchers, Joiners, Tailors, and Coopers. A chamberlain's clerk and other officers are appointed by the common-councilmen. The freedom is inherited by the sons of freemen, provided they have first been made free of one of the trading companies; it may also be acquired by a servitude of seven years to a freeman residing in the borough. Each candidate, on taking up his freedom, is subjected to the ludicrous ceremony of passing through a miry pool, thence called the "Freemen's well."

Extract from: A Topographical Dictionary of England comprising the several counties, cities, boroughs, corporate and market towns, parishes, and townships..... 7th Edition, by Samuel Lewis, London, 1848.

There was a curious and absurd custom, not many years discontinued, in-connection with admission to the freedom, which tradition traces back to a decree of King John; and this tradition looks less improbable than it did, since the publication of an itinerary, which shows that King John was at Alnwick on the 24th April, 1209. St. Mark's day, 25th April, is the day of admission for freemen, and after admission they had to ride the bounds of an extensive common. In the course of their ride they came to a muddy pond, named the "Freeman's Well," where the bailiff bids them dismount and make their way through it from end to end. This they did, in a cotton dress, and usually before a crowd of delighted and applauding spectators. So, it is said, decreed King John, because the townsmen of his day left their roads in so bad a condition that he himself was well-nigh lost in the bogs.

Extract from: The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland, 1868.