Design ideas for an old well?

ShepherdsBarn

We have an old well just outside our parlour window. It is an eyesore ... just hidden by a metal cover. I have been so impressed by the 'before and after' thread on here and wondered if anyone, with an eye for garden design, has any ideas for improvement. 
I would like it to be seen as a 'proper' well - although this is tricky given that it is so close to the cottage wall (cob). Does anyone have a well feature in their garden, with photos they could share? I have looked for inspiration on google images/pinterest, but I can't see anything that would fit our situation.
Any suggestions gratefully received!

Fairygirl

Do you ever need access to it?
We had one in the last house, but it had a proper wall round it, and I just used it for plants, in a large container.
Could you build up the outer wall - either with suitable stone, or rendered blockwork to match your house walls? Then add either a big container for plants, as I did, or better still - have it as a pond. Either done with a liner, and some edging stone to hold it in place, or a preformed one, and build around it. Square or round depending on what you like and what will fit. 

Plantminded

Presuming this is not a functioning well, if you'd like it to be a feature to complement your cottage, how about installing a non-working antique hand pump nearby?  You could place an antique stone trough under the spout and plant it up with a selection of plants that you like.  Or you could make it into a water feature, if that appeals to you!

ShepherdsBarn

I like the idea of the hand pump, @Plantminded ... and we already have one in the shed somewhere!

Thanks @Fairygirl - the well is never accessed; we check it when the water level is high, but there is never a huge amount of water in it - which surprises me as we appear to have a spring under the cottage which has 'erupted' twice, with excessive rainfall! I'd really like to build up the wall so that it looks like a traditional well, I think.

Fire

You can buy old well heads at reclamation yards (or similar). It might be worth keeping an eye out for one big enough that still alllows you access to get down under the man hole. It would be fine right next to the house if it's just for decoration.

ShepherdsBarn

Thanks @Fire ... good idea, but big prices! I think we will probably end up building a circular shape with natural stone - we will want to remove the manhole cover and replace it with a strong weldmesh to fit the top of the well.

Fire

Bulding one sounds like a great idea.

Lizzie27

I think some kind of arch structure over the top might look good after you've built up the wall around it and would give some height in that corner. You could even train that rose over the top?

ShepherdsBarn

That sounds like a good plan! The rose is very special to me as it came from a cutting from a plant which would now be over 150 years old. The cutting was taken approx 30 years ago and has survived several house moves. It was grown by my great granfer and grew on the front wall of his thatched cottage in south Devon.

Lizzie27

Made for the job then!