AS far as outdoor features go it has got to beat a garden gnome.

Shepley man Gary Wooler has actually got a well in his Shepley garden complete with running spring water.

The 60-year-old was astonished to make the discovery as he renovated his home.

The finding came after the Examiner reported that a well had been uncovered during renovation work at the Colne Valley Museum.

Gary had bought the 1800s-built weaver’s cottage on Marsh Lane eight months ago with his partner, Julie Sykes.

He found the well as his garden was being landscaped and his first instinct was to fill in what he thought was just a gaping hole in the ground.

Gary, who is semi-retired, said: “We had the diggers in moving the earth we didn’t need and around 40 tonnes of rubble was bring pushed around.

“Then we saw two massive Yorkshire Stone slabs and when we got these up there was a huge gaping hole underneath.

“We carried on digging it out and found it was about 40ft deep and full of very clear spring water.

“I realised it was a well and it was made out of this lovely red brick which was in an absolutely perfect condition.

“We knew how deep it was because we pumped all the water out to the bottom but then it filled straight back up again.”

Gary went online to research filling in the well but his son put him in touch with Grange Moor based master builder Robert Pilkington who suggested making a feature out of it.

He built the well back up to its original height above ground level using the same red brick.

An apex top is also being made for the well and Gary plans to illuminate it by dropping in a string of waterproof coloured lights.

He said: “At first I was a bit daunted because I was staring down into this dark hole not knowing where it ended.

“But now it’s been built back up and made a feature of I think it’s great.”

The well is believed to have been levelled to the ground and covered over many years ago.

The cottage the couple bought is part of a row called Marsh Cottages thought to date back around 200 years.

They are believed to have once been the village brewery before being split into three separate homes.

Gary said: “The well is only about 12ft away from the main building.

“The beer would have been fermented at the brewery and as the well is so close I would have thought that would have been used as the water supply for the beer making.

“I’m amazed that I’ve got a well in my garden. It’s not something many people can say they have.

“I was amazed to find it and then read that one had just been found at the Colne Valley Museum.

“It would be a great feature to say the house had if I was selling it – but I plan to stay here for life!”