London’s Australia House usually dishes out travel documents and advice but could also in theory provide entirely drinkable water from an ancient well underneath, according to laboratory tests.
The “holy well” – a spring hidden below the basement of Australia’s diplomatic mission on the Strand – is believed to be about 900 years old and is accessible only through a manhole cover in a restricted area.
The Australian high commissioner to Britain, former foreign minister Alexander Downer, escorted ABC news to the spring, and scientific testing of a sample determined it was clean enough to drink safely.
“These wells were of great significance, particularly back in the middle ages,” Downer told the ABC in a story due to air on Sunday night.
“They were used for ceremonial purposes and plays were performed around the well. And as a result of that, this part of London evolved as an area where theatres were built.”
Whether staff today would be willing to provide a refreshing cup of water to people as they wait in the queue is, however, unlikely.
Australia House is home to the country’s high commission, migration and passport services, and a number of government agencies including Austrade and defence.
Downer said the well’s water came from the Fleet river, now covered by roads. There are thought to be about 20 wells in London, with Australia House’s the most accessible. Researcher David Furlong said the first known potential mention of the spring was by a medieval monk in the late 1100s.
Australia’s diplomatic mission has operated out of Australia House since 1918, and is on the Commonwealth heritage list. Its interior featured in the Harry Potter movies as Gringott’s bank.
