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However, the majority of Holy Wells were left unaltered. The religious division of the late Tudor period, and a phase of more absolute religious genocide under Cromwell's interregnum in which many Holy Wells were said [actual instances being difficult to substantiate] to have been damaged and defaced seemingly ended widespread water veneration. However, although evidence is lacking, it would appear that, given the breadth of traditions, customs and comparatively well maintained sites that remain to this day, individuals continued to venerate and maintain the Holy Wells as they always had. By the 1800-1900's popular thought about Holy Wells seemed to have undergone a split. On one side a growth in rationalism and even the later rise of antiquarianism proffered the notion of the Holy Well as a scientific or historical curiosity. Whilst at the other extreme, local communities continued to venerate Holy Wells as they always had.
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