Spurstow Spa.
Spurstow Spa or Spring is a natural mineral water source located in the village of Cheshire, England. The spa was once a popular destination for people seeking health benefits from its salty and sulphurous waters, which were said to cure various ailments such as rheumatism, skin diseases, and digestive disorders. The spa was also known as Spurstow White Water, because of the milky appearance of the water when it bubbled up from the ground.
The history of the spa dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, when the area was called Spuretone and belonged to Robert Fitzhugh, a Norman Nobleman. The spa was later owned by the de Spurstowe family, who gave their name to the village. In the 18th century, the spa attracted the attention of Sir Thomas Mostyn, a wealthy landowner and politician, who built a bathhouse and a hotel for the visitors. He also promoted the spa as a fashionable resort, inviting his friends and guests to enjoy its waters and scenery.
The spa reached its peak of popularity in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when it was visited by many notable figures, such as Samuel Johnson, James Boswell, William Wordsworth and Jane Austen. Some of them praised the spa for its pleasant location and its therapeutic effects, while others complained about its taste and smell. The spa was the subject of some poems and songs such as the “Spurstow Spa” by John Byrom which described the spa as “a fountain of health and delight”.
However by the mid 19th century the spa began to decline in popularity and reputation as new spas emerged in other parts of the country and abroad. The spa was also affected by industrialization and urbanization of the region which polluted the water and reduced its quality. The spa was eventually abandoned and forgotten, and its buildings were demolished or converted into other uses. Today, only a few traces of the spa remain, such as a well and a plaque marking its site.
There are some myths and legends associated with the spa, which adds to its mystery and charm. One legend says that the spa was discovered by a farmer who noticed that his cows produced more milk after drinking from it. Another legend says that the spa was created by a dragon who lived in a nearby cave and breathed fire into the ground. A third legend says that the spa was blessed by St Werburgh, a 7th century saint who was born in nearby Nantwich and who performed many miracles in Cheshire.
Spurstow Spa or Spring is a fascinating example of how a natural phenomenon can become a cultural attraction and then fade away over time. It is also a reminder of how people have always sought to improve their health and well being by using nature’s resources. Spurstow Spa or Spring is part of Cheshire’s heritage and history that deserves to be remembered and appreciated.
After speaking to an elderly gentleman in Spurstow, he directed me to a field on the outskirts of the village, which, he believed was the location of the spring in question.
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