Leamington at Glance

You are on the edge of Old Town where lords and ladies in all their finery 'took the waters' and paraded between theatres, music halls, libraries, tea-rooms and the medicinal health giving baths which made Leamington Spa as famous as Bath, Cheltenham and Buxton in the 1830's. Whilst time have changed since those days you would enjoy retracing their steps by following our "Taking the Waters" heritage trail (yellow Heritage trail), a leaflet on which, you can buy at the Tourist Information Centre.

Most of the buildings survive and the spirit of William Abbotts, Benjamin Satchwell, Henry Jephson and other famous sons of Leamington live on to help you appreciate why the town became so fashionable, and the forces of change which then led to the decline of Old Town and more recently its renaissance.

The Royal Pump Rooms represent the crowing glory of the prestigious fashionable spa resort. Developers had already stated building north of the river in anticipation that further springs would be found. The landowner, Bertie Greatheed, had searched for several years to find another source of mineral water that could be exploited to ensure the success of the New Town. Whilst new hotels and places for entertainment continued to open in Old Town for a further 15 years, the bath houses, despite their constant improvements, became less fashionable and the focus of the town slowly moved northward up The Parade.

The Royal Pump Rooms required two horse-power steam engine to pump up the huge quantities of water required from the well.

It was believed that drinking or bathing in the spa waters would be beneficial to health. Doctors, such as the celebrated Dr Henry Jephson, advised the regular drinking of half a pint of spa water, a moderate intake f plain food and exercise in the Pump Room Gardens. By the early 20^th Century treatments available included the 'Zotafoam' bath of hot bubbles to promote weight loss.

Royal visits helped to make Leamington popular. The Prince Regent visited in 1819 and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester in August 1822. The young Princess Victoria came in 1830 and subsequently granted royal status to the town in 1838, her coronation year. The fashionable world followed them and many doctors, hoteliers, speculators and builders profited from the development of the spa town.

Look!   You can still drink the mineral water from the fountain by the side of the Royal Pump Rooms and also in the entrance concourse.

Did you Know…   the building and furnishing of the Royal Pump Rooms, opened in July 1814, and acclaimed at the time to be the best in the country, cost £ 18,024?