Did you know that a number of old, Welsh wells spread across Cymru were used as “cursing wells”?
What is (or was) a Cursing Well?
Whereas wishing and healing wells are perhaps more common (and favourable), numerous wells, such as the Llanelian Cursing Well at St Elian Church, Llanelian, was used to do the opposite: curse.
This well, too, had originally been a wishing and healing well. However, sometime in the mid-18th century, it gained its more sinister reputation as a cursing well.
It is told that an elderly woman guarded the well. As part of the cursing ritual, the well would be emptied before she would throw in a pin (in the intended victim’s name) before writing the name in a book. She would, of course, be paid for this. The cursing ritual would evolve over time, however, and by the time of a future guardian of the well by the name of Jac Ffynnon Elian, it became more complicated than that. You want to curse someone? Well, put the work in.
His ritual included names being written on parchment, or scratched upon a slate (whatever was available, I guess), which would then be dropped into the well similar to the earlier pin ritual. However, effigies were then made and stuck with pins and accompanied with passages from the Bible, Apocrypha or any of the Harry Potter novels (okay, I made that last one up).
The curser would then, three times, be given water from the well to both consume and pour over his or her head. If all went well (pun intended), the intended victim would be cursed or, if intended, unalived (hate this word but everyone else is using it, sorry).
So, there we have it. That is just one example of the numerous cursing wells scattered around the country. No, you can’t (and shouldn’t) curse people.
More from Welsh Histories
Welsh Histories is a Welsh history celebrating platform which looks to promote all aspects of Welsh history. Though we focus predominantly on native Welsh history, we do also share the non-native aspects from time to time. You can follow us on Facebook; Instagram or Twitter for more. A reader? We also have our very own Welsh Histories Shop where we sell our Welsh Histories Magazine. Diolch yn fawr iawn and keep enjoying Welsh Histories.
DIGITAL Welsh Histories Magazine – September 2025
Niklas is the founder, owner, manager, editor, writer, video creator, voice over artist, and so forth, of Welsh Histories. He is passionate about the preservation of Welsh culture; the rejuvenation of the Welsh language and the promotion of Welsh history. Niklas currently resides in Pune, Maharashtra, with his beloved wife.