Gardeners Arms Wishing Well The History of Wishing Wells

Wishing Well is a term from European folklore to describe wells where it was thought, that any spoken wish would be granted. The idea that a wish would be granted came from the idea that water housed deities or had been placed there as a gift from the gods, since water was a source of life and often a scarce commodity.

Germanic and Celtic

The Germanic and Celtic peoples considered springs and wells sacred places. Sometimes the places were marked with wooden statues possibly of the god associated with the pool. Germanic peoples were known to throw the armour and weapons of defeated enemies into bogs, wells and other pools of water as offerings to their gods.

Nordic

This may be a left over from ancient mythology such as Mímir's Well from Nordic myths, also known as the Well of Wisdom, a Well that could grant you infinite wisdom provided you paid a coin.

Barrmill Scotland

Water was seen to have healing powers and therefore wells became popular with many people drinking, bathing or just simply wishing over it. Some people believe that the guardians or dwellers of the well would grant them their wish if they paid a price. After uttering the wish, one would generally drop coins in the well.

That wish would then be granted by the guardian or dweller, based upon how the coin would land at the bottom of the well. It was thus potentially lucky to throw coins in the well, but it depended on how they landed.

The tradition of dropping pennies in wishing wells from this, coins would be placed  there as gifts for the deity to show appreciation.

So to make a wish come true it is believed that to make a sacrifice of a coin makes you a believer of the Gods of the wishing wells.

Make A Wish

Want to make a dream come true. Make a wish in our Wishing Well, that has been blessed with magical crystals.