‘What’s in the Well?’
Crowdfunding Campaign
This year we return to fully excavate the remaining un-dug part of an early medieval well.
Raising money for analysis and preservation of finds using cutting-edge techniques that will offer a rare insight into the life of our Anglo-Saxon ancestors.
Donate
Our Crowdfunding Total
Be a part of our fundraising efforts!
Every donation, large or small, helps bring the story of Cookham Abbey back to life
Our Target is to raise £5,000!
We’ve discovered something remarkable, we’ve only reached part of it, and now we need your help to uncover the rest.
Supporters who donate £50 or more will be invited to a unique behind-the-scenes visit to the University of Reading.
This exclusive tour will offer the opportunity to see recent discoveries from Cookham Abbey up close and hear directly from the archaeologists and specialists working on the project.
We will be able to increase the value of your donation by 25% via Gift Aid.
Help Us Discover What Lies Beneath
In 2024 archaeologists from Reading University excavating the Anglo-Saxon monastery at Cookham Abbey uncovered something extraordinary: a rare oak-lined well dating from the 8th century.
Carefully constructed, the well has survived for over 1,200 years beneath the ground.
In 2025, we discovered another, even earlier, well!
So far, archaeologists have excavated only a little way into the well, but it already promises great things. It is where the star find of 2025 – half of a stunning bone comb was found.
What lies deeper remains unknown.
This year we are returning to complete the excavation and discover what has been preserved in the unexcavated depths below.
And we need your help.
Found in the 2024 excavated well: The base of a wooden bowl, wooden pegs, the remains of working with a pole lathe. Amazing preservation after 1,100 years!
The well already gave up half of a beautiful bone comb. Is the other half waiting to be found?
A Remarkable Discovery Already
Even the first stage of excavation produced exciting results.
Among the discoveries was a beautifully decorated bone comb dating from around AD 700–800.
This small object connects us directly with an individual who lived during the time of the monastery. It is a tangible reminder that behind every archaeological discovery are real people with lives, routines, possessions and stories.
What other objects may still be waiting below?
Why Wells Matter
Ancient wells are time capsules.
Unlike many archaeological features, wells often contain waterlogged deposits where organic materials can survive for centuries. Objects made from wood, leather, textiles, seeds and plant remains that would normally decay can sometimes be preserved in remarkable condition.
Every layer excavated brings us closer to understanding the people who lived, worked and worshipped at Cookham Abbey more than 1,200 years ago.
- What was thrown into the well?
- What was accidentally lost?
- What clues might still survive about daily life in an Early Medieval monastery?
We won’t know until we reach the bottom.
Our target is to raise £5,000 to support the excavation, conservation and specialist analysis of finds from the well.
Why We Need Your Support
Your donation will help fund:
- Conservation of fragile finds
- Scientific analysis and dating
- Specialist reports
- Recording and interpretation
- Sharing discoveries with the public
- Funding Friends of Cookham Abbey’s work
Without this vital work, important evidence could remain unstudied and valuable information about Cookham’s past could be lost.
Building the Story of Cookham Abbey
The well is just one part of a much bigger picture.
Over recent years excavations have revealed evidence of a high-status Early Medieval monastery with connections reaching far beyond the Thames Valley.
Specialist analysis of previous finds has identified imported pottery, evidence for high-quality diets and artefacts that demonstrate the importance of Cookham during the early medieval period.
Each new discovery helps us understand not only the monastery itself, but the people who lived here and their place in the wider world.
The well has the potential to add an entirely new chapter to that story.
Be Part of the Discovery
For more than 1,200 years the contents of this well have remained hidden.
Together we can uncover what lies beneath, preserve it for future generations and reveal new insights into one of England’s most important Early Medieval sites.
Every donation, large or small, helps bring the story of Cookham Abbey back to life.