Well of the English

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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The English well, located at Saint-Philippe on the island of La Réunion, is a hydraulic work of the first quarter of the 19th century. It is one of three wells built to address the problem of access to drinking water in this arid region. Unlike the chimney wells, this stairwell is dug into the rock and masonized with cut stone, with a 20-step staircase leading to a groundwater table just 21 cm below sea level. Its dimensions are modest: about two meters wide for a depth of 5.76 meters.

The excavation of the well was authorized in 1813 by the English authorities, hence its name. The work was carried out by slaves in colonial workshops, supervised by a construction manager, and the necessary equipment, including powder for digging, was provided by the Government. The well was inaugurated in 1822 by Joseph Hubert at the Baril site, a place where fresh water resurgences had been observed. This project met an urgent need: the inhabitants of Saint-Philippe, installed at the end of the 18th century, had to draw water from distant rivers, due to the absence of ravines providing drinking water nearby.

The construction of this well is part of a wider context of clearing and land-use planning, marked by difficult natural conditions. The resurgence of freshwater on the coast has led to the development of a sustainable solution to supply the population with water. Today, the English well is one of the three wells of that time still existing at Saint-Philippe. He was partially protected by an order in 2025, however excluding the masonry parapet and guardrails.

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