Money Dries Up as Historic Attraction Bans Cash Splash

Visitors to the popular Roman Baths of Somerset, UK were banned from throwing coins into its wishing well in March 2022 and the charity behind the attraction has since reported a 90 percent reduction in donations despite receiving one million visitors in 2023.

The Telegraph reports the Roman Baths Foundation received just over £104,000 ($133,300) in donations in the 2018/19 financial year—notable as being the last pre-pandemic figure—and collected just under £9,500 ($12,200) in 2023/24.

The decision to ban throwing coins into the wishing well was made ‘in part due to a notable decline of cash’. Bath and North East Somerset Council, which oversees the Roman Baths charity, added that it took time to drain the bath and collect the coins, some of which were damaged and could not be banked. It also suggests ‘the tradition of throwing coins into the water had begun to damage the 2,000-year-old structure.’

The well—originally a cold plunge pool used to refresh visitors at the last stage of the bathing process—now features a sign saying ‘Please do not throw coins in the bath. Tap the contactless point or use the cash box to make your offering.’ Unfortunately, even though an alternative cash option is presented, the traditional and tangible gesture of throwing coins into the water was clearly a major attraction for visitors to donate.

Martin Quinn, Campaign Director of the UK’s Payment Choice Alliance, says it is important to offer a range of options when it comes to charity donations, and recommending the decision be reversed since ‘a child making a wish with a contactless card does not have the same magical appeal [as throwing a coin].’

The Council calls the Roman Baths ‘a post-pandemic success story’, saying it is very satisfied with ticket sales and other associated income. There are currently no plans to reintroduce the coin throwing tradition.