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St. Alcelda
(Died C.AD 800)
Alcelda, or Alkelda, was supposedly a chaste Saxon Princess, killed by Vikings at Middleham in Yorkshire. In a window of the collegiate church there, overlooking the site of her shrine, the lady is represented being strangled by two Danish women. Her holy well, where she was martyred, still stands near the church and has always been believed to have healing virtues. Although Alkelda has a second dedication at Giggleswick, so little is known of her that her existence has been severely doubted; particularly as the Saxon word for Holy Well is Haeligkeld. Her feast day is celebrated on 28th March.