Building record MLI88552 - Woodhall Spa Baths
Summary
The Spa Baths at Woodhall Spa had been built by 1839, though were greatly extended in 1887.
Type and Period (1)
- SPA (Post Medieval to Late 20th Century - 1839 AD to 1983 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
Full Description
The Spa Baths were built by the local squire, Thomas Hotchkin, before 1839 on the site of a shaft that had originally been dug in 1821 in an attempt to find coal (see PRN46429). By 1824 water had overflowed from the top of the abandoned shaft and between 1825 and 1829 this water seems to have gained a reputation locally as a healing cure. The buildings constructed by Hotchkin were remodelled by C. E. Davies of Bath in 1887. The complex has been greatly altered but some remnants survive. The Spa Baths and hotel complex began the development of the Woodhall Iodine Spa and eventually the settlement of Woodhall Spa. {1}{2}
The Spa Baths complex is described as being 'in many respects, the most important building in town'. The first buildings were constructed in 1838, with substantial additions in the 1880s. {3}
The original 'Hotchkin' building was constructed of locally made bricks in an Italiante style; much of this is hidden, however, by the later extensions and alterations, and by a pebble-dash rendering. The 1887 extensions were funded by a syndicate of local businessmen, and greatly expanded the spa buildings, adding a new pump room and main entrance, with a veranda built in a semi-rustic style. The baths were used to help the recuperation of soldiers suffering from nervous and mental fatigue after the First World War; this use continued after the Second World War, when management of the baths passed to the National Health Service. The baths continued to be used to treat patients suffering from rheumatism until 1983, when the collapse of the well forced the building's closure. {4}
Sources/Archives (4)
- <1> SLI1062 Bibliographic Reference: Nikolaus Pevsner and John Harris, with Nicholas Antram. 1989. Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (Second Edition). pp.810-1.
- <2> SLI10452 Article in Serial: Czajkowski, M.. 2000. 'The Kirkstead (Woodhall Spa) coalfield' in Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. vol.35, pp.62-3.
- <3> SLI12195 Report: QuBE Planning Ltd.. 2008. Woodhall Spa Conservation Area Appraisal. Section 6.1.
- <4> SLI15074 Report: Woodhall Spa Heritage Committee. 2006. Woodhall Spa Baths. -.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred TF 19564 63517 (56m by 50m) Surveyed |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | WOODHALL SPA, EAST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
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External Links (0)
Record last edited
Mar 21 2021 8:35PM
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