Holy springs, pools and wells are dotted all across the British Isles – and similarly thought-of watery sites, like the ancient French shrine at Chamalières, are known from right across the European continent. Often more a concern of antiquarians than believers today, some such localities have also been traditionally associated with more sinister effects. Several wells which cursed rather than blessed are recorded in local Celtic folklore, much as if they represent a reflection of an age-old connection between watery sites and imprecation. At first blush, the preservation of such superstitions in local traditions seems to represent extraordinary evidence for the enduring nature of ancient Celtic imprecatory beliefs.

A particularly well-known example of a site of this type is Ffynnon Elian, the Well of St Elian at Llanelian-yn-Rhos, Clwyd. Local tradition has it that St Elian's Well was celebrated originally as a place of healing, but this was no longer the case by modern times. During the eighteenth century a whole business had grown up about the old Welsh well dedicated to cursing and charging those who wanted to use its powers to slight someone. For a curse to be effected, the name of a victim could be written on a piece of parchment or slate and placed in the well. The ‘guardian’ of Ffynnon Elian would then read from the Bible, dispense some water from the well to the curser, the ritual being performed three times. Sometimes a wax effigy was also made and stuck with pins, much like a classical kolossos. On top of all this the custodian of the well would charge the cursers a fee of one shilling, one such individual reputedly earning up to £300 a year from this seemingly quite ancient practice. In 1831 a Welsh ‘conjuror’, John Evans, who charged seven shillings for removing a curse thought to be on a person under the influence of Fynnon Elian was sentenced to six months’ hard labour for deception. Yet hundreds of local believers are reported to have used or been cursed by St Elian's Well before it was covered over upon the instruction of a local magistrate.