Image: Edinburgh Castle 07

Description: The Witches' Well near Edinburgh Castle on the Esplanade. A cast iron wall fountain commemorates that here over three hundred women were burned at the stake accused of being witches. In the 16th Century more witch burnings were carried out at Castle Hill than anywhere else in Britain. The victims often suffered brutal torture before being put to death at the stake. They were often nearly drowned by being 'douked' in the Nor Loch (now Princes Street Gardens). The plaque reads: "This Fountain, designed by John Duncan, R.S.A. Is near the site on which many witches were burned at the stake. The wicked head and serene head signify that some used their exceptional knowledge for evil purposes while others were misunderstood and wished their kind nothing but good. The serpent has the dual significance of evil and wisdom. The Foxglove spray further emphasises the dual purpose of many common objects."
Title: Edinburgh Castle 07
Credit: Own work
Author: Ad Meskens
Permission: Notification/copy of publication is appreciated. The copyright holder of this file, Ad Meskens, allows anyone to use it for any purpose, provided that the copyright holder is properly attributed. Redistribution, derivative work, commercial use, and all other use is permitted. Attribution: Foto Ad Meskens Attribution
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
License: CC BY-SA 3.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0
Attribution Required?: Yes