In the 18th and 19th centuries it became fashionable to visit a spa to drink or bathe in the waters.
Places came into and went out of fashion. Quite often when the fashionable people left the less fashionable took their places.
The development of spas started in the 18th century but much if the building was put on hold during the wars with France. There were thirteen new foundations between 1800 and 1809. ( The English Spa by Phyllis Hembry , p. 310.) Five more were established by 1815. Places like the small Askern in Yorkshire had a hotel built in 1812. Several new places were either discovered or developed between 1815 and 1820. Many were developed by the large land owners on whose lands they were discovered.
Bath lost prestige and visitors partially because the baths were in a congested part of town and partially because the fashionable people were going to Brighton or the seaside elsewhere.
During the regency period and for some years before and after, it was unusual for those below gentry status to consider taking the waters or enjoying the baths of some spa.
Few of the laboring poor could afford the baths in Bath.
Part of the success of a place depended on marketing and whether the fashionable people went there. Places that were known to be beneficial to the seriously ill rarely became fashionable watering places.
There were over 100 places in England listed or called spas between 1560-1815. Here is a short list of some of them.
Information liberally borrowed from The Spas of England, and principal sea‑bathing places, by Augustus Bozzi Granville
Bath
The city of Bath was one of the best known of fashionable spas. Though, Bath had lost some of its luster as a fashionable place by the Regency, it was still popular with less the fashionable. The upper and lower rooms were where the visitors and residents attended assemblies.
People went to Bath for the society and for the waters. Many went to the Pump room every day to drink the water and to meet people. Some also entered the Baths there. Men and women had separate baths which they entered clothed in modest garments.
There are many sites on line about Bath and several books relating the history of the city. The baths in Bath had been established by the Romans during the time of the caesars.
Buxton
Derbyshire on the river Wye and overlooking Axe Edge Moor. The geothermal springs stay at 28C.Each summer the wells are decorated. This is called well dressing. The Dukes of Devonshire have been involved with Bruxton since 1780.
Dr. Erasmus Darwin recommended the place to Josiah Wedgewood I. The Wedgewoods often travelled to Bruxton. ( WIKIPEDIA on Bruxton) .
Benjamin Silliman, an American, a professor of chemistry at Yale, visited England in 1806-07. One of the places he visited was Buxton. He said:
May 17.—
Buxton is a neat village, situated in a valley in the edge of Derbyshire. It is surrounded by lofty hills and mountains, in some of which are numerous lime pits.
It was a Roman station, and its celebrated warm springs are believed to have been known to the Romans. It was one of the residences of Mary Queen of Scots, during her long imprisonment in England.
The country in which Buxton lies is dreary and barren, except the valleys, which are verdant and beautiful,‑and generally have a stream of water running through them. The climate here is rainy and tempestuous, yet Buxton is much resorted to for health by invalids, and still more for amusement by the nobility and gentry, many of whom spend the summer at this and other watering places.
Silliman was a chemist and so was interested in the chemical makeup of the waters.
"The water hardly deserves to be ranked among mineral springs, because its impregnation is extremely weak. A gallon of it does not contain more than 15 grains of saline matter, most of which is common lime stone ; there is also a small portion of plaister of paris, and a still smaller of marine salt. It contains no gaseous matter except one part in sixty‑four of azot. Its solid contents are therefore such as are commonly found in spring water, and I could not perceive any thing peculiar in its taste. Yet this water is used with great benefit by invalids, especially by rheumatic, dyspeptic, and nephritic patients, and it is probable that its efficacy is derived principally from the temperature, at least in cases of external application ; for the water is invariably at the temperature of 81° or 82°, and as there is a copious supply, fine baths may be constantly had at Buxton. The Buxton waters can hardly be denominated hot; they are rather tepid. There are both private and public[baths]. Some of the latter are magnificent and sufficiently large to swim in. "
Dr. Saunders (Treatise on mineral waters, p. 141,) remarks: " As‑the temperature of 82°'is several degrees below that of the human ‑body there is a slight shock of cold felt on the first immersion into this bath, but this is almost immediately succeeded by a highly soothing and pleasurable glow over the whole body, which persons often express to be as if the skin was anointed with warm cream, and is entirely the effect of temperature combined with that of simple moisture." .
He informs us also that the term Buxton Bath, has now become generic, being used as a general expression for tepid baths"
Others say:
Buxton is a beautiful 18th century Spa and market town, situated in the heart of the Peak District ‑ an area of stunning beauty and spectacular scenery. Like Bath, it owes its existence to the thermal springs that bubble up beneath the Crescent. The Romans found the natural warm pale blue waters very beneficial and called the town "Aquae Arnemetiae" which means "The Spa of the Goddess of the Grove".
The Crescent in Buxton was built by the fifth Duke of Devonshire in 1784 to provide accommodation for visitors. St Ann’s Well in the center of town is a fountain with continuous flow of spring water.
Faujas de St. Fond went to Buxton and he did not like it at all. "It is situated" he tells us "in the midst of the most dismal and cheerless country that I know. Its waters may be excellent; but most certainly the air one breathes is impregnated with sorrow and misery. The houses, almost all uniform, look like hospitals or rather monkish buildings." De St. Fond affects the usual opinions of his age; wild landscape, moors and crags were considered barbarous and dismal. The early Gothic revival did nothing for them. It stimulated admiration for soft undulating pastures, woods, streams and real or artificial ruins; but it needed the pen of Walter Scott to attract his readers to the wild country north of the border or later to the moors of Derbyshire and Yorkshire.
Cheltenham
England's Regency Spa town, made fashionable in the eighteenth century by King George III. Cheltenham is one of England's most popular inland resorts, noted for fine architecture, stylish shopping, antiques, horse racing and cultural events.
Taking the Waters
Cheltenham became a Spa town in 1716. According to tradition, the first medicinal waters were discovered when locals saw pigeons pecking at salty deposits which had formed around a spring.
A visit by George III in 1788 made Cheltenham fashionable. Many of the buildings were raised to take advantage of this.
Horse racing began in Cheltenham in 1815.
London actors such as Siddons and Kemble appeared on the boards at the Cheltenham theatre, which also presented broad farces and even a man on a tightrope. This might be the source of the phrase "enacting a Cheltenham tragedy", meaning someone was making too much of a situation.
The Sadler Wells in miniature presented a popular puppet show.
There were three circulating libraries: Harward’s, Jones’s, and Selden’s. These offered a collection of newspapers for the convenience of its patrons. French and Irish papers were available along with those of London and the sporting world. Mr. Selden’s shop had a variety of Nick-Nackery, Turnbridge toys, and perfumes. Mr. Harward and Mrs. Jones also rented out piano-fortes.
The town boasted a musical warehouse and library where instruments and music could be rented for the evening or the length of one’s stay.
The town had two establishments dedicated to billiards.
The History of Cheltenham, 1803.
Cheltenham in the 19th Century
The English Spa:1560-1815 A social History, by Phyllis Hembry has two chapters devoted to Cheltenham. One chapter tells of the 18th century spa there. Chapter 17 is” Wartime Cheltenham: Problems of Expansion.”
Cheltenham grew from a population of 3,076 in 1801 to 8,325 in 1811 and to 13, 388 in 1821. ( Hembry p. 255.)
One result of the growth in popularity and population was that transportation and the roads improved. Competing stage coaches cut the hours it took to reach the spa, especially from Bath. Some complained that the passengers were so banged up when they arrived they needed the waters.
The landlords of inns competed as well.
A man sold salts derived from the water around the country so people could have the advantage of the water at home.
The Prince of Wales visited in 1808.
Hembry has more information on the commercial aspects and basis of the enterprise.
Cowes Isle Of Man.
The main item of importance for Cowes was the establishment of the yacht club in 1815.
http://www.georgianindex.net/Yacht/Yacht_Club.html
Cromer a place by the sea.
Droitwich
The ancient and historic town of Droitwich had a rich source of natural brine and achieved fame and recognition as a Brine Spa. The town was built above large deposits of rock salt, formed millions of years ago and salt has shaped the town's history since Roman times. Salt mines were an early employer. Salt used throughout England was mined here.
Not much is known about this place. It wasn’t one of the fashionable spas, being given over to the production of salt. However, it seems that some establishments did offer salt baths or brine baths for those who needed concentrated brine or who couldn’t go to the sea shore. Sea salt or salt from the mine was supposed to have beneficial properties.
Epsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. The town is located 13.6 miles south‑south‑west of Charing Cross. The town lies on the chalk downland in the valley of Epsom Downs, and is home to the eponymous racecourse, which holds the world‑famous Epsom Derby every year.
It is the origin of Epsom salts.
http://www.thespasdirectory.com/profilego.asp?ref=2841343E
Harrogate
Harrogate in North Yorkshire is one of England's most famous Spa towns.
Since the discovery of the first medicinal spring in 1571, the small village with the curious sulphur spring evolved into one of the most fashionable Spas in Europe, and a major health resort for the rich and famous.
It was during the latter part of the 18th century that the town started to become a fashionable retreat, as a new social set began to populate the rapidly developing town. Patients were recommended to drink up to two pints of sulphur water a day by their doctors, and bathing was a popular past‑time.
Leamington Spa is in Worcester near Coventry and Warwick.
The first spring was recorded on a site close to the parish church in 1656, but it wasn’t until 1803 that the Earl of Aylesford erected a small building over it and a charge was made for people to go in and drink. He did leave a free source out side. The original building was replaced in 1813.
Another six springs were found in various locations most south of the river over the next 30 years. "The Royal Pump Rooms and Baths", offering 10 baths for men and 10 for women, were opened in 1810. They were built over the sixth spring.
Malvern is situated at the south‑western corner of Worcestershire, almost in the centre of England. It has been blessed by nature with superb scenery, invigorating air and a wonderful range of hills, the source of the famous Malvern Water. Water is 100% pure- contains nothing.
Tunbridge Wells in Kent.
Tunbridge Wells boxes
The Chalybeate Spring was the main source of the iron-rich water.
Some of the information from :
Travellers in 18th century England Rosamond Bayne Powell
Tunbridge Wells was a lesser Bath. Queen Henrietta Maria, the mother of Charles II and James II made it fashionable after the birth of Prince Charles. Turnbridge Wells was a comparatively short and easy journey from London and was pleasantly situated among wooded hills. Beau Nash visited the Wells and tried to make it a second Bath. He introduced many of the social practices which he had established in the "Queen city", including daily services in church.
The season in Tunbridge Wells lasted from the end of May till the end of September. As at most of the health resorts those taking the waters got up early in the morning. Fashionable ladies, who seldom, in the ordinary way, rose till noon found themselves gazing out of their bedroom windows at the rising sun. They then went out on to the Pantiles and drank the waters, they took a turn on the walks, which, according to Macky, were "crowded with gay and glittering company ". Most of them attended Divine Service and it was not until after this round of water drinking, parading and church‑going that the fashionable company sat down to breakfast. During the remainder of the morning there was more strolling on the Pantiles with visits to mercers and milliners or to the booksellers. One of the latter kept a book in which the young men, who frequented the place, wrote verses to various ladies or in praise of the fair sex in general. This was open to inspection and it was the ambition of many a girl to see her name and charms thus celebrated. After dinner the company paraded again up and down the Pantiles dressed as if for a party. There were balls twice a week at the Assembly Rooms, and card parties and assemblies on the other nights, Sundays of course excepted.
Writing from Tunbridge Wells Elizabeth Montagu says: "Here are Hungarians, French, Portuguese, Irish and Scotch . . . I never saw a worse collection of human creatures in my life."
Woodhall between Lincoln and Lincoln Wold.
Water discovered in 1811 but it wasn’t until the 1820s that the place was made into a spa.
The spas of England, and principal sea‑bathing places, by Augustus Bozzi Granville
Various WIKIPEDIA web pages
The English Spa from 1560-1815: A social history by Phyllis Hembry
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