As part of the 20th annual Walk Scilly festival, we created a guided walk and talk exploring some of the history and possible meanings of Troy Town Maze (Scilly’s oldest labyrinth) and Santa Warna’s Well (Scilly’s only confirmed holy well). The talk sold out ahead of time - we had 14 people and three dogs join us - and we spent a really beautiful morning together.

Our first stop was to look at the Western Rocks: Scilly’s most notorious waterway, which has seen more shipwrecks than any other area. Both the mysterious site we were looking at today orientate themselves towards these fierce waters, and both are associated with calming the sea conditions by supernatural means.

Then we walked on to Troy Town Maze where we talked about the history of the maze and its possible origins. Then we stopped for a jar of foraged hedgerow mint and cleaver tea with homemade wild carrot seed biscuits, in order to allow everyone who wanted to walk the labyrinth to spend some time within its coils.

Breaking for tea and biscuits and to walk the maze…

We continued on to Santa Warna’s cove and holy well to discuss the possible origins of this Saint (Early Christian or Pre Christian Celtic) and her predilection for causing shipwrecks. We looked at some who had been inspired by the well over the past - from Victorian reverends with a thirst for gruesome ghost stories to queer surrealist artists and poets. We then dropped bent pins into her well to make wishes.

Santa Warna is supposed to be able to influence the weather, and for our walk we had the best weather for the whole of the Walk Scilly festival, so I like to think maybe she was smiling on us - particularly as we brought her a whole new band of devotees with votive offering of pins. We’re thinking that our next public art project might be about Scilly’s wells - so it felt good to test these waters.

Discussing Santa Warna’s shipwrecking legacy at her holy well…

We collected feedback from our participants at the end:

What did you like about the event today?

What could we do to make it better next time?

We loved doing this guided walk - and have subsequently been invited to do it a few more times over the summer in partnership with the Isles of Scilly Museum and Cultural Centre. So, if you would like to join us on a future walk-and-talk then keep an eye on our social media where we will be sharing future date: https://www.facebook.com/groups/scillylabyrinthsproject

Myths & Mysteries Guided Walk on St Agnes

What did you like about the event today?

What could we do to make it better next time?

Walk Scilly Guided Walk: Exploring the Myths and Mysteries of Troy Town Maze and Santa Warna’s Well