The Wizards Well. Photo by Gary Tacagni.

The small village of Alderley Edge is not only home to many Manchester United football players but also an unusual place known as the Edge, here can be found many strange places which are steeped in legend. The Wizards Well is one of three wells which can be found here, it is known as a wishing well but also shares a connection to the Merlin legend that is connected to the Edge, this is the reason it bears the name the Wizards well. If you were to look more closely at the huge rock which protrudes out above the stone trough in which the water collects in, we can find inscribed into the rock face the words “Drink of this and take thy fill for the water falls by the wizards will” And if you look carefully you can see a face carved into the rock which represents Merlin.

It is believed that when a person visits a wishing well it is possible to change ones luck and attract a desire by placating the spirits that dwell here, usually by leaving an offering in the form of a coin placed in the water. However another method is after having formed an image in your mind of what you want, the wisher must then stoop and drink from the wells water which they have gathered in the palm of their hand three times, without speaking, at the same time revolving the wish in their mind during this process. The wish must not be told to anyone no matter how close until the wish is accomplished, otherwise the breach of faith you have formed with the spirit of the well will have been broken, this will be followed so it is claimed by disaster and ill fortune, so be careful what you wish for, and remember that these days many wells are unfit to drink from due to pollution.

Merlin’s face above the Wizards well. Photo by Gary Tacagni.