Memorial that benefitted a community

When her son died relatively young, a wealthy Midsomer Norton woman determined to remember him with a practical gesture that she knew was close to his heart. She would give local people a safe source of drinking water. Evelyn Youle tells the story of St Chad's Well and wonders if more could be done to look after it.

- Evelyn Youle

In the small Somerset town of Midsomer Norton, schoolchildren daily pass through the garden of St. Chad’s Well, as I myself did for years without any idea of its importance. But beneath the overgrown foliage and crumbling stone lies a powerful story of remembrance and of one woman’s mission to transform her grief into something that could benefit an entire community.

Elizabeth Savage was not merely lady of the manor at Norton House, but a prominent figure in the local community.

Arthur Waugh, father of Evelyn Waugh, described her as “an authority by no means to be despised” thanks to her sizeable donations to the local church. Of her three children, only one survived past infancy, her son Frederick Stukeley Savage (Stukeley being Elizabeth's maiden name).

Born in 1828, Frederick was educated at Eton before joining the army. As a part of the 68th Light Infantry (now Durham Light Infantry), Frederick fought at many major battles of the Crimean war.

For his services he was awarded a series of honours, including the Crimea Medal with four clasps representing his actions at the battles of Alma, Balaklava, Inkerman and Sebastopol. Only five clasps were authorised, yet no individual ever received more than four.

Frederick was among thirteen men in his regiment to receive the Order of the Medjidie, presented by the Ottoman sultan as a thanks to British soldiers for their aid against Russia. Such was Frederick’s bravery that he was awarded a brevet majority in the 68th Light Infantry, before becoming Major of the 86th regiment.