Reade would often tell the the Maharaja stories from the land he grew up in.

Although the Thames run close by, the river is little more than a shallow stream at this place.

One story in particular made a huge impact on the Maharaja.

Maharaja’s Well

Maharaja of Benaras, Ishree Pershad Narayan Singh.

The well, now known as the Maharajas Well, is 368 feet deep and 4 feet wide.

It was dug entirely by hand under difficult and dangerous condition.

Maharaja of Benaras, Ishree Pershad Narayan Singh

The sand layers were the most dangerous as they were susceptible to cave-ins.

The final few feet consisted of a mixture of chalk and shells.

The work took 14 months to complete.

Maharaja’s Well

A winding gear was installed to pull water, and this was adorned by a gold-painted elephant.

An octagonal caretakers cottage was constructed next to the well, which has been a private home since 1999.

Photo:Amateur with a Camera/Flickr

The gilded elephant decorating the winding mechanism of the well.

Maharaja’s Well

A footpath was completed at the maharajah’s expense when the Marquis of Lorne married Princess Louise in 1871.

Use of the well declined and the well fell into disrepair.

The well was restored in 1964 on the occasion of its one hundredth anniversary.

Maharaja’s Well

The centenary celebration and the restored wells inauguration was attended by Prince Philip and representatives of the Maharaja.

A vessel containing waters from the Ganges was brought in and poured into the well.

The massacre committed at Cawnpore was particularly cruel.