14 DAY TRIAL // Magical wells, springs, rivers and whatnot might be the stuff of fairy tales, but as it turns out, such stories might in fact have some truth to them. More than our rational minds can handle.
You see, there's this well found near the town of Knaresborough in North Yorkshire, England, on the banks of the river Nidd, that can turn things to stone. Literally.
Sticks, leaves, dead birds, teddy bears or other memorabilia, they all become nature-made stone sculptures if let to bathe in the waters of this spooky well for too long. Usually, the transformation takes a few months.
The rumors
Witnessing things turn to stone for no apparent reason, simply by having water drip on them from a well, doesn't really sit right with our view of the world.
Hence, for centuries, people were quite convinced that this so-called Petrifying Well in North Yorkshire had been cursed by the devil and that this explained its uncanny ability to turn things to stone.
In fact, folks were so terrified of the well that they feared having just one drop of water from it touch their skin would instantly turn them to stone too.
Interestingly, it appears that, before the sight of dead animals turned to stone damaged its reputation, the water coming from this well was thought to have medical properties.
Thus, it was in 1538 that John Leyland, antiquarian to Henry VIII, described the well in one of his writings, explaining how people thought its water could heal all sorts of ailments.
Then, there's the story of Mother Shipton, a woman who legend says was born in a cave near the well and who was so ugly that people thought her to be the devil's offspring.
What with Mother Shipton also having some psychological problems - they called them psychic powers back then, - her association with the Petrifying Well damaged both their reputations even further.
The facts
No, this is not a hoax. This so-called Petrifying Well in North Yorkshire really turns things to stone. Except the devil can't take any credit for it.
Rather, scientists who have had the chance to examine the chemical profile of its water explain that the supposed petrification is merely the result of a high mineral content.
Thus, the well merely coats the things that come into contact with its water with a mineral shell not very different to stalactites and stalagmites.
Having such a high mineral content, the water is not safe to drink, seeing how it can upset the body's chemistry, maybe even encourage the formation of kidney stones.
