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Draft:List of Holy Wells in England

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The following is an incomplete list of existing holy wells in England, sorted by county. Holy wells are often dedicated to a particular saint (although there are many exceptions), and most have been venerated for centuries. Over time, the locations of many holy wells have been lost or forgotten; this list deals only with holy wells that exist today.

Bedfordshire

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Holy Wells in Bedfordshire
Name Image Location Estimated age Parish Notes Status

Berkshire

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Holy Wells in Berkshire
Name Image Location Nearest settlement Notes References
St Andrew's Well 51.449195N, 1.135095W Bradfield Once supplied water to the village of Bradfield. It has now been capped. [1]
St Anne's Well
51.469497N, 0.976345W Caversham Probably of medieval origins. The well was rediscovered in 1906, although it has run dry; it is now grade II listed.[2][3] [4][5][6]
St Frideswide's Well 51.455657N, 1.209958W Frilsham Legend has it that St Frideswide used the water for miraculous healing. It was reputed to be good for healing eye problems. [7]
St Hubert's Well SU 9053 7412 Foliejon Park Likely to be of medieval origins. It was known for curing eye problems. [8]
The Lady Well SU 4549 6801 Speen The well was restored in 1902. It was reputed to have healing properties. [9]
Rebecca's Well 51.5177N, -0.8494W Wokingham Dedicated to the biblical character Rebecca. A well house, which is grade II listed, was built on the site in 1870. [10][11]

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Bristol

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Holy Wells in Bristol
Name Image Location Nearest settlement Notes References
St Anne's Well 51.450347N, 2.545728W Brislington Likely to be of medieval origins. [13][14]
St Edith's Well Bristol The earliest reference to the well dates to the 14th century. It was covered over after the water became contaminated with sewage. [15][16]

Buckinghamshire

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Name Image Location Nearest settlement Notes References
Holy Well 51.879950N, 0.830489W Whitchurch [17]
Schorne Well 51.895642N, 0.872227W North Marston Medieval in origin. Dedicated to Sir John Schorne, a local saint, and the rector of North Marston's church. The well water was said to have miraculous healing properties. [18][19][20][21]
Holy Well 52.173006N, 0.738005W Olney [22]
St Osyth's Well 51.829171N, 0.788269W Bierton Also known as "Uptown Well". It was restored in the 1990s. [23][24]
St Rumbold's Well 51.9961N, -0.9964W Buckingham Medieval. The conduit house dates from the 17th century. It is dry for most of the year. [25][26]

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Cambridgeshire

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Name Image Location Nearest settlement Notes References
Holy Well 52.318152N, 0.041371W Holywell The wellhouse is a grade II listed building. [28][29]
Holy Well 52.568649N, 0.278419W Longthorpe Also known as "St Cloud's Well". It probably dates from the 18th century. [30][31]
St Michael's Well 52.2729N, 0.0544W Longstanton Both the well and wellhouse are grade II listed. They date from the 19th century. [32][33]

Cheshire

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Name Image Location Nearest settlement Notes References
St Chad's Well 53.409208N, 2.092175W Romiley The water was once said to possess healing properties. [34][35]
Holy Well SJ 8589 7785 Alderley Edge This well was believed to have healing powers. It is said to be the oldest used spring on Alderley Edge. [36][37][38]
St Oswald's Well SJ 60742 94099 Winwick The well is supposedly located on the spot at which St Oswald was killed. [39]
St Patrick's Well 53.339382N, 2.984732W Bromborough **In Merseyside - move to the Merseyside section** [40]
St Plegmund's Well SJ 45525 70129 Mickle Trafford The well was used for christenings in medieval times; it was restored in 1907. [41][42]
St Winefride's Well SJ 47387 55243 Clutton The stonework around the well dates to the medieval period. [43]

Cornwall

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Name Image Location Nearest settlement Notes References
Alsia Holy Well 50.068733N, 5.644518W St Buryan The well is a grade II listed structure. [44][45]
St Anne's Well 50.7609N, -4.464W Whitestone The well is medieval, although it was restored in the 19th century. It, and the structure around it, is grade II listed. [46][47][48]
St Ann's Well 50.074068N, -5.5772622W Trewoofe In the medieval period, the well was known to be good for curing gout. The well was rediscovered in 2017. [49]
St Anthony's Well 50.089947N, 5.100776W Meneage It is located near to St Anthony's Church. [50][48]
St Bryvyth's Well 50.399375N, 4.705776W Lanlivery The well is dedicated to St Byvyth, or St Brivita, the parton saint of Lanlivery. [51]
St Buryan's Well 50.073998N, -5.6229694W St Buryan The stone well house still exists, although the well itself has run dry. [49][52]
St Cadoc's Well 50.535541N, 4.985959W Quethiock Located opposite St Hugo's Church. [53][54][52]
St Clether's Well 50.634224N, 4.542461W St Clether The well became famous for its supposed healing properties. [55][56]
St Congar's Well
St Euny's Well 50.103100N, -5.6377126 Carn Brea Local tradition dictates that anyone who has been baptised in the well cannot be hanged. [57][49]
Holy Well 50.4884N, -4.4691W St Cleer The well is thought to date from the 16th century. The structure is grade I listed. [58][59]
St James' Well SX 09072 76915 St. Breward The well and the structure around it is grade II listed. [60][52]

Cumbria

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Name Image Location Nearest settlement Notes References
St Andrew's Well 54.917090N, 3.009468W Kirkandrews-on-Eden [61][62][63]
St Cuthbert's Well 54.682056N,

2.677752W

Edenhall According to local legend, a group of fairies were interrupted whilst drinking from the well, and they left behind a medieval glass cup, which is known as the "Luck of Edenhall". [64][65][66]
St Helen's Well 54.513798N, 2.493036W Great Asby The well is a grade II listed building. The stone enclosure likely dates from the 19th century. [67][68]
Holy Well 54.157363N,

2.935449W

Lower Allithwaite Miners in the area regarded the well as possessing healing properties of some kind. At some point, the well was possibly dedicated to St Agnes. [69][70][71][72]
St Michael's Well 55.0005N,

-2.9723W

Arthuret This well probably dates from the 17th century. [73][74]
St Ninian's Well 54.8595N, -2.9009W Briscoe The well and wellhead are grade II listed. The well itself is ancient, but the wellhead dates from the 19th century, when it was restored by Sarah Losh. [75][76][77][78]
St Mungo's Well 54.8122N, -3.2836W Bromfield The wellhead is a grade II listed structure; was built in 1878. The well itself dates from the medieval period. [79][80]

Derbyshire

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Name Image Location Nearest settlement Notes References
St Alkmund's Well 52.9295N, -1.4782W Derby The well is classed as a grade II listed building; it is medieval in origin. [81][82]
St Anne's Well 53.2585N, -1.9145W Buxton The well is a grade II listed structure. [83]
St Anne's Well SK 18262 82525 Brough and Shatton [84]
St Ann's Well 2.839623N, 1.564392W Repton Possibly post-medieval. [85][86]
St Anthony's Well SK 3719 4357 Horsley [87]
Holy Well SK 3459 5452 Crich [88]
Holy Well 52.832757N, 1.428942W Kings Newton The well was first documented in 1366, when it was referred to as "Halywalsiche". The well was restored in the 1980s. [89][90]
St Mary's Well SK 4609 6356 Ault Hucknall The well is probably post-medieval, and the wellhead is now partially covered. [91][92]

Devon

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Name Image Location Nearest settlement Notes References
St Ann's Well 50.3111N, -3.8765W Bigbury The well is of medieval origins. It is located very near to two Bronze Age round barrows and a Neolithic long barrow. The site is grade II listed. [93][94]
St Anne's Well SX 755 862 Moretonhampstead The well was once renowned for curing eye problems. [95]
St Brannock's Well
Holy Well 50.9146N, -4.076W Beaford The well and well house is a scheduled monument. [96][97]
Jacob's Well Moretonhampstead
Job's Well Moretonhampstead
Joseph's Well Moretonhampstead

Dorset

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Name Image Location Nearest settlement Notes References

Durham

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East Riding of Yorkshire

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East Sussex

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Essex

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Gloucestershire

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Greater London

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Greater Manchester

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Hampshire

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Herefordshire

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Hertfordshire

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Isle of Wight

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Kent

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Lancashire

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Leicestershire

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Lincolnshire

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Merseyside

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Middlesex

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Norfolk

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North Yorkshire

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Northamptonshire

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Northumberland

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Nottinghamshire

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Oxfordshire

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Rutland

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Shropshire

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Somerset

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South Yorkshire

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Staffordshire

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Suffolk

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Surrey

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Tyne and Wear

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Warwickshire

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West Midlands

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West Sussex

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West Yorkshire

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Wiltshire

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Worcestershire

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References

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  1. ^ "St Andrew's Well Holy Well or Sacred Spring". The Megalithic Portal.
  2. ^ "St Anne's Well Head and Drinking Bowl, Caversham, Reading". British Listed Buildings.
  3. ^ Historic England. "St Anne's Well Head and Drinking Bowl (1321915)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  4. ^ "St Anne's Well, Caversham". Holy and Healing Wells.
  5. ^ "Holy Well of St. Anne". Atlas Obscura.
  6. ^ "St Anne's Well (Caversham)". The Megalithic Portal.
  7. ^ "St. Frideswide's Well Holy Well or Sacred Spring". The Megalithic Portal.
  8. ^ "RBH: History of Foliejon Park, Berkshire". Berkshire History.
  9. ^ "Lady Well (Our Lady's Well), Speen". Mysterious Britain and Ireland.
  10. ^ Historic England. "Rebecca's Well, Wargrave (1210646)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Rebecca's Well, Crazies Hill, Wokingham". British Listed Buildings.
  12. ^ "Berkshire Ancient and Holy Wells". Google.
  13. ^ "St Anne in the Wood, Brislington". insearchofholywellsandhealingsprings.com.
  14. ^ "St Ann's Well (Brislington) [St Anne's Well]". The Megalithic Portal.
  15. ^ "St Edith's Well, Castle Park". Wessex Archaeology.
  16. ^ "Celebrating Bristol's oldest source of drinking water". bristol24/7.com.
  17. ^ "Whitchurch Holy Well". The Megalithic Portal.
  18. ^ "John Schorne". North Marston History Club.
  19. ^ "John Schorne's Well, North Marston". Buckinghamshire Heritage Portal.
  20. ^ "Scorne Well Holy Well". The Megalithic Portal.
  21. ^ "John Schorne's Well, North Marston". Local Heritage List.
  22. ^ "Holy Well (Olney)". The Megalithic Portal.
  23. ^ "St Osyth's Well". Bierton Parish Council.
  24. ^ "St Osyth's Well (Bierton)". The Megalithic Portal.
  25. ^ Historic England. "St Rumbold's Well, Buckingham (1017204)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  26. ^ "St Rumbold's Well, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire". ancientmonuments.uk.
  27. ^ Norfolk, Andy. "Buckinghamshire ancient and holy wells". google.com.
  28. ^ "Holy Well (Cambridgeshire)". The Megalithic Portal.
  29. ^ "The Holy Well, Holywell, Cambridgeshire". British Listed Buildings.
  30. ^ "Holy Well, Longthorpe, Peterborough". The Northern Antiquarian.
  31. ^ "St Cloud's Well (Longthorpe) [Longthorpe Holy Well (Peterborough)]". The Megalithic Portal.
  32. ^ "Well and Wellhead, Churchyard, Church of St Michael, Longstanton, Cambridgeshire". British Listed Buildings.
  33. ^ Historic England. "Well and Wellhead, Churchyard, Church of St Michael, Longstanton (1164289)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  34. ^ "St. Chad's Well - Romiley, UK". waymarking.com.
  35. ^ "St Chad's Well (Chadkirk) Holy Well". The Megalithic Portal.
  36. ^ Bennett, Paul. "Holy Well, Alderley Edge, Cheshire". The Northern Antiquarian.
  37. ^ "Holy Well (Alderley Edge)". The Megalithic Portal.
  38. ^ "Well, Holy Well, Alderley Edge". National Trust Heritage Records.
  39. ^ Historic England. "St Oswald's Well, 150m south of Woodhead (1018082)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  40. ^ "St Patrick's Well (Bromborough)". The Megalithic Portal.
  41. ^ Historic England. "St Plegmund's Well 200m east of Bankfield Farm, Mickle Trafford and District (1018615=)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  42. ^ "St Plegmund's Well". cheshirenow.co.uk.
  43. ^ Historic England. "St Winefride's Holy Well at Holywell Farm (1018702)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  44. ^ "Alsia Well - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in England in Cornwall". The Megalithic Portal.
  45. ^ Historic England. "HOLY WELL AND GATES AT SW393261 (1312267)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  46. ^ "St Anne's Well, in Whitstone churchyard". Ancient Monuments.
  47. ^ Historic England. "St Anne's Well, in Whitstone churchyard (1017638)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  48. ^ a b Quiller-Couch, M (1894). Ancient and Holy Wells of Cornwall. London: Chas. J. Clark. pp. 4–260. ISBN 9781015709010.
  49. ^ a b c "Springs and Holy Wells". Ancient Penwith.
  50. ^ "St Anthony's Well". The Megalithic Portal.
  51. ^ "St Bryvyth's Well - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in England in Cornwall". The Megalithic Portal.
  52. ^ a b c "Cornish Ancient & Holy Wells". Google My Maps. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  53. ^ "About – St. Hugh". Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  54. ^ "St Cadoc's Well". The Megalithic Portal.
  55. ^ "St Clether's Holy Well". The Megalithic Portal.
  56. ^ "St Clether Holy Well Chapel". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  57. ^ SeaDogIT. "Holy Well of St Euny". Cornwall Heritage Trust. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  58. ^ SeaDogIT. "St Cleer Holy Well and Cross". Cornwall Heritage Trust. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  59. ^ Stuff, Good. "St Cleer's Well and Wall, St Cleer, Cornwall". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  60. ^ Historic England. "HOLY WELL AT CHAPEL FARM, St. Breward (1327913)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  61. ^ "Old Cumbria Gazetteer - St Andrew's Well, Kirkandrews upon Eden". www.lakesguides.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  62. ^ "St Andrew's Well :: Survey of English Place-Names". epns.nottingham.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  63. ^ "St Andrew's Well (Kirkandrews-on-Eden)". The Megalithic Portal.
  64. ^ "History". Edenhall Estate. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  65. ^ "Old Cumbria Gazetteer - St Cuthbert's Well, Edenhall". www.lakesguides.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  66. ^ "St Cuthbert's Well (Edenhall Park)". The Megalithic Portal.
  67. ^ Historic England. "ST HELEN'S WELL TO SOUTH OF ST HELEN'S ALMSHOUSES, Asby (1137163)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  68. ^ "St Helen's Well, Great Asby – Out of Oblivion". outofoblivion.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  69. ^ "Old Cumbria Gazetteer - Holy Well, Lower Allithwaite". www.lakesguides.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  70. ^ "Heritage Gateway - Results". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  71. ^ "Holy Well (Humphrey Head) - Holy Well or Sacred Spring in England in Cumbria". The Megalithic Portal.
  72. ^ "Holy Well, Humphrey Head, Allithwaite, Cumbria". www.thenorthernantiquarian.org. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  73. ^ Stuff, Good. "St Michael's Well, North West of Church of St Michael, Longtown, Cumbria". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  74. ^ Historic England. "ST MICHAEL'S WELL, NORTH WEST OF CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL, Arthuret (1335611)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  75. ^ "Old Cumbria Gazetteer - St Ninian's Well, Brisco". www.lakesguides.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  76. ^ "Heritage Gateway - Results". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  77. ^ Historic England. "ST NINIAN'S WELL, St. Cuthbert Without (1087745)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  78. ^ Stuff, Good. "St Ninian's Well, St Cuthbert Without, Cumbria". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  79. ^ Historic England. "ST MUNGO'S WELL, Bromfield (1276083)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  80. ^ Stuff, Good. "St Mungo's Well, Bromfield, Cumbria". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  81. ^ "Listed Building record MDR4520 - St Alkmund's Well, Bath Street/Well Street, Derby". Derbyshire Historic Environment Record.
  82. ^ Stuff, Good. "St Alkmunds Well, Derby, City of Derby". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  83. ^ Stuff, Good. "St Anns Well, Buxton, Derbyshire". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  84. ^ "Monument record MDR8954 - St Ann's Well, Brough Lane, Brough". Derbyshire Historic Environment Record.
  85. ^ "Monument record MDR2579 - St Ann's Well, Repton". Derbyshire Historic Environment Record.
  86. ^ "St Ann's Well (Repton)". The Megalithic Portal.
  87. ^ "Derbyshire ancient and holy wells". Google My Maps. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  88. ^ "Crich Holy Wells". Crich Parish.
  89. ^ "Kings Newton Holy Well". The Megalithic Portal.
  90. ^ "Holy Well, King's Newton, Derbyshire". www.thenorthernantiquarian.org. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  91. ^ "MNA109322 | National Trust Heritage Records". heritagerecords.nationaltrust.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  92. ^ "Water sources in Derbyshire". Derbyshire Heritage. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
  93. ^ Historic England. "Medieval holy well known as St Ann's Well, 120m south of Holwell Farm, Bigbury (1019315)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  94. ^ Stuff, Good. "St Anns Well, Circa 70 Metres South of Holwell Farmhouse, Bigbury, Devon". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  95. ^ "Heritage Gateway - Results". www.heritagegateway.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  96. ^ Historic England. "Holy well 480m north west of Beaford Mill, Beaford (1015142)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  97. ^ Stuff, Good. "Holy well 480m north west of Beaford Mill, Beaford, Devon". ancientmonuments.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
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