The natural droitwich brine contained 2 12 lbs of salt per gallon ten time stronger than sea water and only rivaled by the dead sea. The brine baths became famous for treating rheumatic and arthritic problems and were not just open to hospital patients but athletes, footballers, the rich and famous and holidaymakers. Spent many weekends enjoying the music saw the yarbirds group live. Droitwich spa the postcard collection paul jones lrps. Droitwich spa lido is one of the uks last remaining inland, openair, saltwater swimming pools. The town has been the site of a settled community for over 2000 years. A pictorial history pictorial history series 9780850339024. The brine baths and salt manufacture lend to the town all its characteristic features and give it two very different aspects. Along with other spa towns and resorts, droitwich saw a gradual decline in popularity after the second world war. Open during summer months, its the ideal day out for the whole family.
A droitwich historian has penned a new book exploring the towns rich past. Jan 21, 2010 the history of salt production at droitwich spa the romans came to droitwich to get salt, which was part of a soldiers pay the natural brine at droitwich is ten times saltier than sea water only the waters of the dead sea are as concentrated. There are royal brine baths, supplied with water of extreme saltness, st andrews baths, and a private bath hospital. Droitwich brine is pumped up from an underground lake, and is 10 times the strength of natural sea water. Droitwich saw great changes in the nineteenth century, largely brought about by salt king john corbett. The royal brine baths were opened along with some fine hotels. Official facebook account for droitwich library uk. Plans to move droitwich spa brine bath revealed bbc news.
Photo of droitwich spa, st andrews brine baths 1931, from the francis frith collection francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. Nov 15, 2017 droitwich saw great changes in the nineteenth century, largely brought about by salt king john corbett. Bbc the history of salt production at droitwich spa. The borough of droitwich was englands major salt producing centre for centuries, and is the most frequently mentioned town 11 times in the domesday book. The pool itself was filled with diluted brine, pumped from brine streams beneath the town. Droitwich spa became the only saltwater spa town in britain when john corbett created the first spa, st andrews brine baths, in 1887 as part of the raven hotel. This building is now the droitwich spa heritage centre. Photo of droitwich spa, st andrews brine baths 1931. Brine bathing remained fashionable up until the second world war that made droitwich spa a popular destination for visitors from both home and abroad. The chateau the salt king built for love commercial production of salt. Underground brine streams rise to the surface in the salwarpe valley vines park under artesian pressure. Droitwich brine baths the history the future of the historic brine baths in droitwich spa remains uncertain they date from the 19th century.
Anyone visiting here for the first time should head for this little gem for history and information on the town of droitwich. It is based on triassic marls and sandstone stratified with beds of rock salt from which emanate springs of brine. Oct 01, 2009 1887 john corbett open a second brine baths, the st andrews brine baths, its entrance being st richards house. May 30, 2018 droitwich spa became the only saltwater spa town in britain when john corbett created the first spa, st andrews brine baths, in 1887 as part of the raven hotel.
To the east of droitwich spa is shakespeares country and stratforduponavon. During this period the town evolved from an industrial town to a spa town with two brine bath complexes and numerous hotels and guest houses. Droitwich spa droitwich spa is a historic town within the wychavon district of northern worcestershire, on the banks of the river salwarpe. To the north of droitwich spa lies the city of birmingham, home of the national exhibition centre and to the south stands the city of worcester, dominated by its cathedral.
Brine bath definition of brine bath by medical dictionary. Richards house, dates from the 1930s and consists of a very friendly and welcoming tourist information centre, a fascinating local history exhibition and a small but comprehensive. The reemergence of interest in health and leisure resulted in the new brine bath complex opening in 1985, britains biggest spa development this century. Droitwich author delves into towns history in new book. A privately run droitwich brine baths took over in the 1980s but was closed again in 2008. Bbc hereford and worcester places droitwich brine baths.
Jan 21, 2010 two canals were built, to link droitwich to the river severn, and to the worcester to birmingham canal. The royal baths closed in the 1930s and the saint andrews baths in 1975. The brine baths and salt manufacture lend to the town all its characteristic features and give it. The history of salt production at droitwich spa bbc. Sage facade feckenham foreground friar street gable house. Dec 24, 2012 the springs also give droitwich a considerable reputation as a health resort. Droitwich spa has a long history dating back to prehistoric times. We have a rich and diverse history, with the towns salt museum, droitwich. Main image shows the brine baths hotel, and is from. The pleasant surroundings necessary for a health resort are offered near the baths, while in the lower part of the town the decay caused by abandoned salt works and ruined buildings gives it a desolate appearance. Droitwich, which is famous for its brine baths and was mentioned in the domesday book, does have a title of honorary freeman, but that award is reserved for those who have served the local community rather than starred on the global sporting stage. But this too was closed in december 2008 due to a dispute between the operator and wychavon district council over health and safety inspections. Portobello bathing pool, 1936 pool, british seaside. Droitwich spa brine baths a friend told me about this, and i thought they were joking a brine baths in the west midlands, similar to the dead sea.
The droitwich spa heritage and information centre is housed on the former brine baths site, which was first established in the 1880s. Two canals were built, to link droitwich to the river severn, and to the worcester to birmingham canal. The brine baths contain over 1kg of salt in every 4 litres of water almost 10 times the strength of seawater and only the dead sea supports a greater concentration. Droitwich spa photos, maps, books, memories of droitwich. The river salwarpe takes its name for the anglo saxon. A history quiz about droitwich spa and the locality over the years droitwich spa has been known by several names like salinae or saltwich and droitwich so the reference to droitwich spa in questions may not be the name the town was known by in the time period to which the question relates. Best droitwich spa places to visit things to do britains.
Along with other spa towns and resorts, droitwich saw a gradual decline in popularity after world war ii. Its location, around the brine springs in waterlogged conditions has ensured the survival of a variety of features, including buried structures, wooden artefacts and. D54001 worcestershire hotel 1904, droitwich spa ref. Luxury hotels in or near droitwich spa, including 4 star and 5 star hotels. Oct 12, 20 image caption droitwich s first brine baths opened in the 1830s. The droitwich spa brine baths complex, st andrews road, droitwich.
Droitwich was the site of a roman villa or spa, fn. Droitwich brine is the strongest natural salt water known, and contains 30% natural salts. The towns second brine baths complex, the st andrews brine baths opened in 1887 with its entrance being st richards house in the centre of the thriving town close to the worcestershire and the raven hotels. The two large volumes of records became known as the domesday book. Plans to move droitwich spas brine baths to a new site have been announced. The droitwich spa lido is a lido in droitwich spa, worcestershire, england. Droitwich brine is the strongest natural salt water known, and contains 30%. Droitwich spa town is an ideal centre from which to explore the heart of england. Eventually the brine baths closed and no spa facility existed for over ten years. The brine is the strongest natural salt water known and contains 30% of natural salts. A history quiz about droitwich spa and the locality. A the time of his death in 1901, it is estimated that john corbett owned half of droitwich. The official guide for droitwich spa in worcestershire. Salt has been a valuable commodity for thousands of years, and it is because of this that droitwich under which lies vast quantities of salt has prospered, particularly since roman times.
It is one of the few remaining inland, openair saltwater swimming pools in the uk brief history. The brine was 10 times stronger than seawater, however it wasnt until the 19th century that the benefits of brine baths were fully appreciated. It owes its existence to the natural brine springs which emanate from subterranean beds of pure rock salt 2000ft below the ground. Throughout the centuries salt mining has played an important role in the development of the town, and in the 1830s droitwich was transformed into a spa town, following the realisation of the therapeutic qualities of salt water. Droitwich spa heritage centre salt museum visit worcestershire. Archaeology services derek hurst in his 1992 book, savouring the past. A range of souvenirs can be purchased along with numerous local history books.
Interest in brine continues in droitwich with proposals to build a brine experience to celebrate the towns salty history. Information pack cover address book area map this microportal is built on the 2day microportals platform which provides you with 3 click access to. The springs also give droitwich a considerable reputation as a health resort. Corbett also developed the famous brine baths, turning droitwich into one of the most popular spa towns in the country. The historic brine baths built in 1876 were known for their therapeutic and remedial benefits, you could float in the water weightless in the warm brine of the bathing pool. Train tickets from droitwich spa to bath spa can start from as little as. Following specialist inspections at droitwich spa brine baths on 12 december 2008, the facility was closed to allow further building. We need your help to bring the historic brine baths back to droitwich spa. Aug 23, 2017 droitwich spa droitwich spa is a historic town within the wychavon district of northern worcestershire, on the banks of the river salwarpe. The droitwich spa brine baths complex opening hours 2020.
During this period the town evolved from an industrial town to a spa town with two brine. Brine had been used therapeutically from the 1830s, initially to cure cholera, but its benefits for sufferers of rheumatic conditions were soon famous and droitwich spa was born. An overview of the history of droitwich the use of brine in this location, and the. My parents used to run a cafe in the high street, but my friends and i used to gather in the cosy cafe many great times to remember. The droitwich salt making industry is exceptional in preserving evidence for salt production from the iron age until the 19th century. The brine was collected and evaporated to make salt. Droitwich spa heritage and information centre is housed on the former brine baths site. The original brine baths have long since closed, but a new brine bath part of the droitwich spa private hospital opened to the public for relaxation and hydrotherapy. A extraordinary collection of historic photos and maps of droitwich spa, the droitwich area and worcestershire. Brine baths could return to droitwich spa bbc news. Full of information, friendly staff, small local heritage centre, donations welcome, all about the salt works and brine baths which used to be housed in. Michelin star chef brad carter is the droitwich salt ambas.
Discover the history of droitwich spa from salt town to modern day. Many hotels and boarding houses of various sizes were built to accommodate the visitors who were treated at the brine baths which had been established. Droitwich salt is sourced from one of the oldest and purest brine springs in the world, and is part of worcestershire history. Droitwich spa is a town founded on salt its natural brine springs. Surrounded by the beautiful worcestershire countryside, it is a town of great charm offering its visitors plenty to see and enjoy. The droitwich spa heritage and information centre opened in 1980 and is housed on the former brine baths site. Richards house, dates from the 1930s and consists of a very friendly and welcoming tourist information centre, a fascinating permanent local history exhibition, bbc radio room and has a small but.
A local resident mr gabb built the first royal brine baths in 1836. The heritage centre houses a small museum displaying items from the towns past. Droitwich spa lido is worcestershires finest outdoor pool. No fresh water was available for bathing and a patient was ordered to bathe in hot brine. The water is used in cases of gout, rheumatism and kindred diseases. The domesday book of 1086 records that william i took over all brine pits and. Droitwich spa it is the salt deposits under the town which have made it famous. At churchfields saltworks, natural pure brine is crystallized using renewable energy, winning a great taste award. The spa water at droitwich is the warmest in the united kingdom outside bath, but it does not meet the most common definition of a hot spring as the water is below standard human body temperature. May 12, 2018 the brine baths became famous for treating rheumatic and arthritic problems and were not just open to hospital patients but athletes, footballers, the rich and famous and holidaymakers. Droitwich brine with its 25 per cent solution of salt is some 10 times saltier. Richards house, dates from the 1930s and consists of a very friendly and welcoming tourist information centre, a fascinating permanent local history exhibition, bbc radio room and has a small but comprehensive range of. It is situated on what is now known as the worcestershire plain in the salwarpe river valley.
The new brine baths complex opened in 1985 and this was located just behind st richards house and enjoyed by the public. Image caption droitwichs first brine baths opened in the 1830s. The lido was originally built in the 1930s and the building features an artdeco style interior. Plans to move droitwich spa s brine baths to a new site have been announced. Prices can also vary depending the time of day, route and class you book. More on the history of the droitwich canals and the people who are restoring them. The photo of droitwich winter gardens brings back memories of the time 1965 1970.
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