Until the end of the Middle Ages, a wayside shrine was considered a sign of bad luck. It was erected at the site of an outrage, robbery or accident. After that, its meaning changed. To this day, wayside shrines are erected to invoke the saints and to give thanks. Along the streets and paths of the town of Brilon, but also in the open countryside, you will repeatedly come across artistically shaped wayside shrines. Numerous sandstone wayside shrines were erected in Brilon, especially in the 17th and 18th centuries.
The helper for all that is lost
The following is recorded about the reason for the erection of the wayside shrine of St. Anthony in 1747: A child belonging to Henricus Unckel from Elleringhausen got lost in thick fog while on an errand to Brilon. When the child was found again days later, the father had this wayside shrine erected in honor of St. Anthony out of gratitude for his return home. St. Anthony is always invoked when something is lost.
It is also quite possible that this wayside shrine served as a guide. At that time, there was no spruce forest at this location, but rather a large area of open heathland where it was easy to get lost in fog. This area is still called "Lange Heid" today.