In the early 18^th Century local residents noticed pigeons pecking at salt deposits by a spring south of the town.  People started drinking the water in the belief it would heal various health issues.  By 1742 Henry Skillicorne had deepened the spring, and turned it into a well.  He built assembly rooms, and started charging for the use of the water.   He also landscaped the area.

The idea of “taking the water” really developed from 1788 when George III visited the town on the advice of his physician.  Skillicorne’s original well became known as the Royal Well after the king’s visit, and by 1800 it had approximately 2000 visitors a year.

Ironically the original spring is no longer in existence as the area was eventually developed into the Cheltenham Ladies College.

Competing Spas

To meet the demand for ‘health treatments’ new spas were opened.  In 1801 Henry Thompson, a wealthy Londoner, bought a large estate, and shortly afterwards the Montpellier Spa was opened.  Originally the spa was housed in a wooden structure, but respected architect John Papworth created a stone building with a copper rotunda.  Today this building still remains as Lloyds bank, which can be seen at the corner of the Montpellier Gardens on the Montpellier Walk.

Montpellier Rotunda Cheltenham

Next the Sherbourne Spa was opened on the site that is now the Queens Hotel near the Imperial Gardens.  The Sherbourne Promenade that led to the spa was eventually renamed the ‘Promenade’.

A number of other spas followed, but of these the best know is Pitville Pump Room in Pitville Park.  The pump room is located in the north end of the park, and is a fantastic example of Regency architecture.  With colonnades, and a Grande dome it overlooks ornamental lakes.  Architect John Fobes intended the structure be both a spa, and a social venue.  The building combines elements of both Greek and Roman architecture; the dome is probably modelled on the Panthenon in Rome.

Today the pump room is actively used as a concert venue that can seat 400 people; the excellent acoustics mean it is Cheltenham’s premier venue.  The spa is still available in the oval pump room should visitors want to ‘take the water’.