Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland
Witches' Well
In or near Edinburgh.
Witches' Well — a memorial in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
Mike Pennington — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 15 min–45 min
- Nearest railway station
- Edinburgh Waverley · 0.5 km
- Paid entry
- Family-friendly
- Dog-friendly
- Wheelchair accessible
Getting there & planning your visit
You can reach Witches' Well by taking a train to Edinburgh Waverley station, which is 0.5 km away. Entry is free, and the site is wheelchair accessible. The postcode for navigation is EH1 2NE.
About
Witches' Well is a memorial located in scotland-central, United Kingdom. Sourced from OpenStreetMap (ODbL licence); see local listings for visitor information, opening hours and admission details.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2024
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Official information
The Scotch Whisky Experience is a premier attraction located on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, dedicated to showcasing the history and culture of Scotch whisky. Visitors can enjoy guided tours, tastings, and explore one of the largest collections of Scotch whisky in the world.
From the Wikipedia article
The Witches' Well is a monument to accused witches burned at the stake in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is the only one of its kind in the city. The memorial drinking fountain is attached to a wall at the lower end of the Castle Esplanade, below Edinburgh Castle, and located close to where many witches were burned at the stake. During the high point of witch hunting in the early modern period, 32% of accused witches came from the Lothian area.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
Architecture
The well was commissioned by Sir Patrick Geddes in 1894, and designed by Geddes' friend John Duncan. The bronze relief features a foxglove plant, a snake curled around the heads of Hygeia, the Greek goddess of good health, and her father Aesculapius, god of medicine. <gallery> File:Witches Well - Detail 4.jpg|Evil eye detail File:Witches Well - Detail 3.jpg|Hands of healing detail </gallery> The building upon which it is affixed (now containing the Tartan Weaving Mill) was built in 1851, for the Castlehill Reservoir. In 1674 the reservoir was connected to 12 wells around the city, eventually closing in 1992, and converted into the Tartan Mill in 1996.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 55.9489, -3.1964
- District
- City of Edinburgh
- Postcode
- EH1 2NE
- Parliamentary constituency
- Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
- Phone
- +44 131 220 0441
- Nearest railway station
- Edinburgh Waverley — 0.5 km
- Opening
- Daily 10am–8pm
- Official site
- www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk
Sources
- osm: node/2836251939 (ODbL)
- wikipedia: Witches' Well, Edinburgh (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Witches' Well?
- Witches' Well is in central Scotland, United Kingdom (postcode EH1 2NE).
- What is Witches' Well?
- Witches' Well — a memorial in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
- How do I get to Witches' Well?
- The nearest railway station is Edinburgh Waverley, about 0.5 km away. Drivers can use postcode EH1 2NE.
- Is Witches' Well free to visit?
- Yes, Witches' Well is free to enter.
- How do I get to Witches' Well?
- The nearest railway station is Edinburgh Waverley, about 0.5 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode EH1 2NE.