If you've ever visited Porthchapel Beach then there's a good chance you've visited the ancient well nearby.

The well is named after St Levan, a missionary who performed baptisms at the site.

It's located on the footpath down to the beach.

Porthchapel Beach can be found between Porthcurno and Porthgwarra and around three miles from Land's End on Cornwall's far south west coast.

According to Historic England, the Holy Well of Saint Levan is a Grade II Listed Building.

You can stay up-to-date on the top news near you with CornwallLive's FREE newsletters – find out more about our range of daily and weekly bulletins and sign up here or enter your email address at the top of the page

The website describes the site as a "roughly square-on-plan roofless well house with east doorway, all built on a granite monolithic foundation stone.

"In front of the doorway is a sump and the water comes form a natural spring covered by granite lintels on the right."

The well also has an interesting bit of folklore attached to it.

Porthchapel Beach
Porthchapel Beach

In olden times it was said that drinking water from the well would cure toothache and eye diseases.

Meanwhile, if you slept inside the well this would further increase your chances of being cured.

St Levan's Well on the coast path down to Porthchapel Beach
St Levan's Well on the coast path down to Porthchapel Beach

The well structure also had a roof until at least the mid 18th century.

There was also a chapel in the area, and its remains are said to be scattered around the nearby landscape.

St Levan's Well near Porthchapel Beach
St Levan's Well near Porthchapel Beach

If you're planning on visiting Porthchapel Beach, be careful as the path down to the beach is closed in places.

Also the cliff path down to the beach is very steep and rocky.