English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Penny Well

Other OS name in the Parish of Henbury

Historical Forms

  • Penywell, fontem 1389,1391 RBBriii,192–5

Etymology

, possibly identical with Penywell , fontem 1389, 1391RBBr iii, 192–5 , v. pening ' penny ' , wella ; the actual significance is uncertain , but it could refer to some folk - belief in its lucky properties when small coins were thrown into it .