History
Early Spa Treatments in Leamington Spa

The Spa Water Treatments of Royal Leamington Spa

The first record of a mineral spring at Leamington (then known as Leamington Priors) was in 1480.  It was mentioned in books in the following centuries, however, by end of the 18th century Leamington was still a small village and its single spring an undeveloped asset. The water was first used to treat people suffering from hydrophobia, but with spa water treatments being promoted it came to be seen as having wider medical benefits. The first natural spring was supplemented by various wells dug in the area known as Old Town by people attempting to commercially exploit the large volume of mineral water. The waters of Leamington are basically saline, but the different wells had different mineral compositions which are divided into three main types: saline, sulphurous and chalybeate (containing iron carbonate and peroxide). The main minerals are common salt, Epson salt and gypsum.

A bath attendant running a saline bath in one of  the cubicles at the Royal Pump Rooms. (photo by Walden Hammond M3535.1990.12)

The early treatments consisted of cold and warm bathing, depending on the complaint, several times a week or a day. Large amounts of the water were also drunk several times per day. It was alleged to be effective against many ailments: scrofula, gout, kidney, liver and stomach complaints, rheumatism and ill humours.

As Leamington Spa became more and more popular, with bigger and better buildings and well houses were built to accommodate the wealthy visitors, the treatments became more organised. Doctors, including the eminent Dr Henry Jephson prescribed their cures. The ailments varied, as did the treatments, but they were based on certain basic principles - regular drinking of the saline waters, alongside a strict regime of regular exercise, usually walking, and a restricted diet of plain food. Jephson also prescribed specific types of bath for different illnesses - and medicine when he deemed it appropriate. The plain living, early rising and exercise would have certainly had an effect on the wealthy upper classes of early and mid 19th century England who would have been little used to such a lifestyle. However, the deciding factor in the effectiveness of the treatments was probably the laxative nature of the water.

There was a decline in the popularity of the spa in the latter half of the century as trips abroad became possible and the railways were developed as a means of mass transport. Despite this Leamington adapted and many people continued to come for treatments. Baths such as the Hammam or Turkish bath were built and electrical treatments were introduced to treat a number of illnesses.

From the late 19th century onwards emphasis at the Royal Pump Rooms was placed on medical cure rather than leisure.   "The beaux and rakes had long departed to be replaced by sufferers whose maladies had not been primarily caused by dissipation...Leamington was now an earnest rather than a frivolous place".  An 1843 print showing a group of people outside the Royal Pump Rooms. A bath chair can be seen by the collonade. These were used to transport sick people to and from the building.  The development of the medical department was largely based around electrical treatments that lise the saline waters influenced by continental trends.   During the First World War the Pump Rooms had many applications from war pensions and disablement committees from around the country for the treatment of wounded soldiers.  Difficulties were soon encountered in finding lodgings for the men as landladies had spent too much of their time trying to find extra food.  One soldier was returned home in disgrace after coming for treatment with two black eyes from a pub brawl.

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