The little lane that leads off the A40 is signposted “Hampnett, Village only. Gated road” in an obvious attempt to stave off marauding crowds from the great London to West Wales trunk road. If, despite their best efforts, you take the turning and drive into the little village, you will understand why.

Whilst the signs suggest a no-through-road, the lane does in fact carry straight through Hampnett, arriving after a couple of miles, at the Northleach Prison, just outside Northleach itself.

We have, of course, visited this medieval wool town, sitting on the Foss Way Roman Road and boasting an almost cathedral-like parish church, but when we were there, we still failed to register the presence of the lovely village of Hampnett, so unassuming and hidden is it.

It sits at the top of a valley, cut by a vigorous little stream that is an important tributary to the river Leach. Looking at this wonderful spurting spring it’s easy to understand why our medieval ancestors attributed supernatural and religious influence for their existence. It spews incredibly clear and totally un-polluted water, the very stuff of life, from a natural hole in the hillside.

Only since we fully understood the workings of Aquifers have we been able to give a somewhat more prosaic explanation for this wonderful phenomenon. Our predecessors gave credit to their God, often seeing the springs as a personal miraculous favour from the Almighty.