Cheltenham Heritage Open Days 2016 Brochure

CHELTENHAMHERITAGEOPEN DAYS8–11 September 2016

CELEBRATING 300 YEARSAS A SPA TOWN

Princess Hall, Chelte

nham

Ladies’ College

Spa Water Taps, C

heltenham Tow

n Hall

Spa Water Fountain, Pittville Pum

p Room

Tickets must be pre-booked for some events as numbers are limited. See page 10 for information.

CHELTENHAM HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 8–11 September 2016

3For further information please visit heritageopendays.org.uk2

This year we are celebrating 300 years since the discovery of mineral waters inCheltenham.We are thrilled that the sites of the first commercial well (underPrincess Hall at Cheltenham Ladies’ College) and of the only remaining operatingpump (in Pittville Pump Room) will be open at specific times during HeritageOpen Days. There are, of course, many other significant buildings, fascinating walksand talks, exhibitions and more, on the spa theme and other aspects of life inCheltenham over the last three centuries, and even earlier. Do enjoy it all.

Maxine MellingChair, Cheltenham Civic Society

WELCOME TO CHELTENHAMHERITAGE OPEN DAYS 2016

R Refreshments D Disabled access P Free parkingT Toilets S Spa town related property, talk or walk

Key for the entries on the following pages

‘Salubritas et Eruditio’ –‘Health and Learning’ isthe motto of Cheltenhamand the town’s coat ofarms reflects the reason

for this – the mineral waters, theelegant tree-lined avenues andeducational establishments for whichthe town is renowned, and pigeons.

Pigeons?! Old Cheltenham had been a one-streetmarket town. But that was to change in 1716 whenthe watering habits of a flock of healthy pigeons,‘...pecking at the calcareous particles for the digestionof their food’ from a spring in a field, came to thenotice of an observant landowner, William Mason,who sank a well to harness the spring waters.

By 1738, Mason’s son in law, a retired sea captain,Henry Skillicorne (read his large memorial tabletin Cheltenham Minster), had recognised the widercommercial potential of the mineral waters. Skillicornebuilt a brick canopy over the well and a small

assembly room to one side to provide a place forpeople taking the waters to gather, see and be seenwhilst improving their health. In addition he plantedtrees along the approaches to his popular well –Well Walk by Cheltenham Minster is the last relic ofthese. Fifty years on, in 1788, the five week sojournof King George III and his family boosted the town’spopularity as the fashionable place for the upperclasses. Now the well was truly a Royal Well. It isfrom these simple beginnings that the elegant townwe know today had its origins, giving us Montpellier,Pittville and its Pump Room, Montpellier Rotundaand the Promenade, all in a town to be proud of,with a heritage to preserve, and in which it is apleasure to live.

Over the years there have been at least twenty-sixwells providing different mineral waters and thereis a self-guided walk, specially prepared for HeritageOpen Days 2016, which can be picked up, free ofcharge, from the Tourist Information Centre.

Neela Mann, Cheltenham Local History Society

All Saints’ ChurchAll Saints Road GL52 2HGGrade I building, town’s best exampleof work by architect John Middleton.Consecrated 1868 with richlydecorated interior, stained glass byBurne-Jones. Fine musical tradition.Association with Holst family.

Saturday 10am-4pm;Sunday 12noon-4pmR/D(Nave only)/P/T

Bristol andGloucestershireArchaeologicalSociety LibraryUniversity of GloucestershireArchives Room, Francis CloseHall, Swindon Road GL50 4AZSign boards at all 3 universityentrances. Consult the collectionof antiquarian books, the early guidebooks and the books and periodicalson local history, genealogy,archaeology, architecture and more.

Friday 10am-12noon D/T

Cheltenham CollegeChapel andMain BuildingBath Road GL53 7LDFounded 1841, first of the greatVictorian boarding schools.Magnificent gothic chapel will beopen and starting point for toursof the main 1843 building,including the college libraryand theatre.

Saturday 9am-12noon;Chapel open and frequent tours ofmain building. Last tour 11.30amD(partial)/T

Cheltenham CollegeThirlestaineLong GalleryBath Road GL53 7LDGrade I listed, created in the 1840sby Lord Northwick to house hiscollection of paintings, its elegantclassical style provides a contrastto other College buildings.

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CambrayBaptistChurchCambray PlaceGL50 1JSThis 1853 Grade IIlisted galleriedchurch has manyoriginal featuresand one ofCheltenham’sfinest pipe organs.

10 minute toursalso cover the extensive complex of rooms and halls hidden frompublic view by surrounding property.

There are half hour talks, and organ recitals of 10 and 30 minutes.

Friday 10.30am-3.30pm; Saturday 10.30am-3.30pm

Tours: Friday & Saturday 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm & 3pm. (15 places per tour)

Organ Recitals with David TingleyFriday: 10 minute recitals at 12noon & 1pm; ½ hour recital at 2.30pm.Saturday: ½ hour recital at 11am. 10 minute recitals at 12noon & 1pm

R/D/T

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Saturday 2-4pmT

LOCATIONS

LOCATIONS


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LOCATIONS


For further information please visit heritageopendays.org.uk4

CheltenhamMinster, St Mary’sWell Walk GL50 3JXCheltenham’s Grade I listedmedieval parish church. Outstandingstained glass windows. Beautifulunspoilt interior, masses of memorialtablets recording people and eventsin Cheltenham’s history.

Thursday 11am-3pm & 6-8pmWatch the bell ringers from 6pmFriday 11am-3pm;Saturday 10am-5pm; Talk at 2.30pmSunday 12noon-5pm;Guided tour at 3pmR/D/P(disabled only)/T/S

CheltenhamTown HallImperial Square GL50 1QACheltenham Town Hall was builtin 1902-03 in order to providea venue for the many balls andconcerts at the turn of thetwentieth century. The Main Hallis the centrepiece, distinguishedby its Corinthian style columnsand coved ceiling.

Sunday 10am-12noonD/T/S

CheltenhamMasonic Hall2 Portland Street GL52 2PBOne of the oldest purpose-builtMasonic Halls built in 1823 byarchitect George Underwood. Manyinteresting architectural features,dining room decorated in KnightsTemplar encampment style, late1700s pipe organ, elegantly wroughtiron balustrade on the cantileveredspiral staircase and a balcony railing.Displays and presentations onCheltenham Freemasonry.

Saturday 10am-4pmR/D/T

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CheltenhamLadies’ CollegeBayshill Road GL50 3EPVisitors will be able to view thePrincess Hall which was built in 1897.It was constructed on the site ofthe old Theatre Royal (part of theearly spa entertainment complex)and echoes the theatre’s layout.The adjacent corridor contains aninformation board relating to itshistory and a plaque marking thelocation of the original spa well.

Saturday & Sunday 1-4pmEntrance from Montpellier StreetT/S

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CheltenhamPlayhouseBath Road GL53 7HGThe Playhouse was opened in 1945,making it (we believe) the only newtheatre to have begun operationduring World War II. However, priorto this, the auditorium was aswimming pool, other rooms werea medicinal spa and individual baths,while the scenery workshop andfoyer were a salts laboratory andbottling plant. Guided tour roundthe ground floor.

Sunday 12noon-4pmR/D/T/S

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CheltenhamSynagogueSynagogue LaneSt James Square GL50 3PUListed Grade II* RegencySynagogue consecrated in 1839.Home to a small, traditional,orthodox Community. Containsoldest Ashkenazi furniture (1761)in the UK. Has two unique18th century prayer plaques.Members on hand to talkwith guests.

Sunday 11am-4pmD(ramps)/T

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Christ ChurchMalvern RoadGL50 2NUBuilt by Jearrad in 1839 as apreaching church with largegalleries. Remodelled interiorby Middleton in 1888 creating abeautiful domed apse with roofpainting, wall panels and triptych.Many military memorial tablets.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10am-4pm; Sunday 12noon-5pm

Guided Tours: Friday 10am; Saturday 3pm; Sunday 3.30pm

Art Competition & Exhibition: Theme ‘Wings’, winning imagechosen for Christian Arts Festival 2017. From 8-18 September;Celebration View Saturday 12.15-2.30pm

Coffee Concert: Feast of Choir and Organ Music! Christ Church Choirwith organist Matthew Martin, award-winning composer and Directorof Music at Keble College Oxford. Including Parry’s famous anthemI Was Glad and local composer Gustav Holst’s anthem Turn Back O Man.Organ solos on our magnificent four-manual instrument. A short concertwith coffee and cake afterwards – come and meet the performers!Saturday 10.30am. Entry by donation

R/D/P/T

Dean Close SchoolShelburne Road GL51 6HEThe School was established in 1886,and is set in 50 acres of parklandin the centre of Cheltenham.The tours will concentrate on theSenior School buildings which dateback to 1886 when Dean CloseMemorial School, an evangelicaleducational establishment, was firstopened. Tours will depart from themain school reception and takeapproximately one hour. Tea andcake will be available after the tour.

Thursday: Tours at 10am & 2pmSaturday: Tour at 10amPlease ring 01242 267439 to book

Holst BirthplaceMuseum4 Clarence Road GL52 2AYFree ‘Hard Hat’ tours of theMuseum following flood damagein June 2016. Discover how thebuilding work is progressing. Thetour will last approximately 1 hour.Donations to ‘Help Holst’ appeal.

Sunday: Tours at 10.30am; 11.30am;1.30pm; 2.30pm & 3.30pm.10 spaces available at each tour.Pre-book by phoning the Museum01242 524846 or by [email protected]

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Parmoor House13 Lypiatt Terrace GL50 2SXEarly Victorian listed buildingdesigned by Samuel Daukes inthe Italianate style. CheltenhamLocal History Society Exhibitionof Cheltenham in World War I;display from Cheltenham CivicSociety archives; vintage film ofCheltenham.

Friday 1-7pmSaturday & Sunday 11am-4.30pmT

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Pittville Pump RoomWest Approach Drive GL52 3JEPittville Pump Room is a magnificentGrade I listed building that inRegency times was the largest ofthe town’s spas. Surrounded bya grand colonnade opening intothe impressive hall with its ornatedomed ceiling and chandeliers.

Friday 9am-11amSaturday 2-4pm: Members of Friendsof Pittville and its Pittville HistoryGroup will answer your questionsSunday 10am-12noonD/P/T/S

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LOCATIONS


For further information please visit heritageopendays.org.uk6

Sandford Parks LidoKeynsham Road GL53 7PUYou will be able to explore thefacility and see some areas notnormally accessible to the public.Please note that normal entranceprices apply for using the facilityfor swimming. During the day therewill be scheduled tours to the plantroom. Details of these tours willbe available from reception or bycalling 01242 524430 in the weekleading up to the HODs weekend.

Saturday 11am-5.30pmR/D/T

St Andrew’s UnitedReformed ChurchMontpellier Street GL50 1SPAn 1885 listed Church buildingwith hall added 10 years later.Major refurbishment in 2002 withrestoration of Willis Organ, manyoriginal features retained. Dormerwindows refurbished 2016.

Saturday 10am-1pmIncluding demonstrations on theorgan during the morningR/D/T

St Gregory’s Church10 St James Square GL50 3PRGrade II* listed building designedin 1853 by Charles Hansom. A fineexample of a Gothic Revival churchwith many beautiful stained glasswindows by John Hardman ofBirmingham. Fine stone carvings byBoulton and others, including a setof ‘Stations of the Cross’. Extensivesympathetic restoration has takenplace in recent years. Printedmaterials enable self-guided tours.

Friday 11am-4pmSaturday 11.30am-4pmD

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LOCATIONS

Prestbury UnitedReformed ChurchDeep Street, PrestburyGL52 3ANPrestbury URC celebrated its 150thAnniversary this year. We will havean exhibition of church history andthe Prestbury Local History Societywill have a display. Our own experton Beatrix Potter (also celebratingher 150th) will be on hand todiscuss her life and work.Saturday 10am-4pmNo parking at the church. Free parking(by War Memorial) is 100ydsR/D/T

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St Christopher’sChurch, Warden HillLincoln Avenue GL51 3DDA 1960s building, with ten splendidThomas Denny stained glasswindows based on the parables.A Comper window, and two newlyetched Nicholas Mynheer windows.The lightest ring of bells in a churchin the world. Brief talks on the hour,and ringing demonstrations on thehalf hour.

Sunday 2-5pmTalks at 2pm, 3pm & 4pmR/D/P/T

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The RockSt Peter’s ChurchTewkesbury Road GL51 9AHSt Peter’s Church, ‘a neo-Normanmasterpiece’ was designed bySamuel Whitfield Daukes andconsecrated in 1849. Come andexperience its new life as hometo The Rock, a pioneering youthproject.

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Sunday 2-4pmR/D/P/T


St Luke’s ChurchSt Luke’s Road GL53 7HX1854 church including artefactsfrom demolished St John’s Church.Self-guided leaflet available.West gallery used as artist’sstudio.

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St Mary MagdaleneChurchElmstone Road, UckingtonGL51 9TJ (off the A4019)The tower will be open for visitorsto view the proposed GreaterUckington site of 4500 houses.We hope to have some of theoldest church records in thecountry on display. Lightrefreshments will be available,

Saturday 10am-3pm;Sunday 12noon-3pmR/D/P/T

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Thursday 12noon-4pmFriday 12noon-4pm & 7-9pmSaturday 10am-4pmSunday 12noon-4pm

Workshop: Drop-in familyart workshop on Saturday from12noon (Workshop not suitablefor under 3 years)

Art exhibition

Yarn bombing: In church groundsraising funds for Cancer Research

Chamber music: from 2pmon Saturday

R/D/P/T

St Stephen’s ChurchSt Stephen’s Road GL50 3ABThere will be a photographic andart exhibition, also vestments andflowers. We can tell people aboutour beautiful church but there willbe no designated talk. There willbe tea, coffee and cake at theback of the church.

Saturday 10am-4pm: Concert byChurchdown Male Voice Choir at7.30pmR/D/P/T

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University ofGloucestershireThe Park CampusThe Park GL50 2RHOriginally planned in 1831 asa zoological gardens to entertainthe town’s pleasure seekers, todaya thriving university campus.Its inhabitants have changedfrom elephants to nuns to femaletrainee-teachers over the years.

Thursday & Friday: Tours at 1pm,2pm & 3pm. Pre-book at [email protected] or 01242 714851D/T

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The WilsonClarence Street GL50 3JTCheltenham’s award-winning artgallery and museum. Our renownedpermanent collection features itemsrelating to local history, Antarcticexploration, archaeology anda wide range of ceramics andpaintings. The Arts and CraftsMovement gallery containsinternationally important pieces.

Thursday–Sunday 9.30am-5.15pm;Arts and Crafts Movement TourSaturday 2pm (lasts approx 1 hour)D/T

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CHELTENHAM HERITAGE OPEN DAYS

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1 All Saints’ Church

2 Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Library

3 Cheltenham College Chapel and Main Building

4 Cheltenham College Thirlestaine Long Gallery

5 Cambray Baptist Church

6 Cheltenham Ladies’ College

7 Cheltenham Masonic Hall

8 Cheltenham Minster, St Mary’s

9 Cheltenham Playhouse

10 Cheltenham Synagogue

11 Cheltenham Town Hall

12 Christ Church

13 Dean Close School

14 Holst Birthplace Museum

15 Parmoor House

16 Pittville Pump Room

17 Prestbury United Reformed Church

18 The Rock at St Peter’s Church

19 Sandford Parks Lido

20 St Andrew’s United Reformed Church

21 St Christopher’s Church, Warden Hill

22 St Gregory’s Church

23 St Luke’s Church

24 St Mary Magdalene Church, Elmstone Hardwick

25 St Stephen’s Church

26 University of Gloucestershire, The Park Campus

27 The Wilson

28 Exhibition: Cheltenham Life 1914-19

29 Self Guided Walks

30 Self Guided Walk: Mineral Well Walk

31 Talk: Yiddish in the UK

32 Talk: From Holy Wells to Regency Spas

33 Talk: Having the Builders In

34 Talk: From Burne-Jones to Tom Denny

35 Talk: 19th Century Christian Reformers

36 Talk: The History of Cheltenham Minster

37 Walk: The Prestbury You Didn’t Know

38 Walk: The Pittville Pump Room & Estate

39 Walk: Cheltenham in the Great War

40 Walk: Edward Wilson Walk

41 Walk: Tivoli in 90 Minutes

42 Walk: Guided Walk of Regency Cheltenham

43 Walk: Cheltenham’s General Hospital

44 Walk: Pittville – a Spa Too Far?

45 Walk: Cheltenham Spas Walk



CHELTENHAM HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 8–11 September 2016CHELTENHAM HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 8–11 September 2016

Talk: From HolyWells to RegencySpasCambray Baptist ChurchSpeaker: Alan PilbeamAlan’s talk, lasting approximately30 minutes, will trace thedevelopment of spas in Cheltenhamand their dramatic effect on lifein the town. Special reference willbe made to the Cambray spas,close to the site of the church.

Friday 11amS

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Talk: 19th CenturyChristian Reformers,Changing the Faceof CheltenhamCambray Baptist ChurchSpeaker: Peter WorsleyCountering the bad press oftendepicting the Victorian era, Peter’s30 minute talk focusses on the workof 19th century Christian reformers.They made a real difference toCheltenham and influenced muchof its fine architecture.

Saturday 2.30pm

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Talk: Yiddish inthe UKCheltenham SynagogueSpeaker: Jessica ShapiroTalk and discussion about Yiddish,the language of the Ashkenazi Jewsthat developed in central Europeand is now enjoying a revival.

Duration about an hour. 40 places available.

Wednesday 7pmPre-book please [email protected] ring 01242 242724

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Talk: From Burne-Jones to Tom Denny:20th CenturyStained GlassCheltenham Minster, St. Mary’sSpeaker: Adrian BarlowGloucestershire has very finemedieval glass but Cheltenham’sown heritage of 20th and 21stcentury glass – including a fineposthumous window by Sir EdwardBurne-Jones and the work of Britishdesigner, Tom Denny.

Saturday 2.30pm

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Tour & Talk:The History ofCheltenham Minsterwith special mentionof the SpaCheltenham Minster, St. Mary’sSpeaker: Roger JonesLearn about Hanah Forty, thehymn-writer Mary Walker, Jane Cook,Baron de Ferrieres, Rev FrancisClose, Captain Henry Skillicorneand his illustrious descendants.

Talk: Having theBuilders In –Cheltenham in the 1830sThe Music Room, Christ ChurchSpeaker: Joan Whiting-MoonLadies in fine muslin and Dandiesin well polished boots, imagine theirconsternation, stepping out of theirfine lodgings when the rest of theterrace is still being built. The 1820sand 1830s was Cheltenham’shey-day as a spa town, but alsoits major construction periodwith its attendant upheaval.

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TALKS


It is essential to book for all guided walks and one talk (number 31). Entry to all walks is by ticket only.Bookings can be made from Monday 25 July until one day before the walk or talk itself. Most bookingsare to be made through:

Cheltenham Tourist Information Centre (TIC)The Wilson Art Gallery & Museum, Clarence Street GL50 3JTTelephone 01242 237 431 Email [email protected] every day 9.30am-5.15pmTIC-issued tickets must be collected from the TIC in person. If you cannot attend after all, please informthe TIC as soon as you know so that your ticket can be reallocated. Note that the TIC will not keepa waiting list.

Numbers are limited on guided walks because experience has shown that if groups are too large,many cannot hear and see, and for leaders it is difficult to manage a large group in a public placewithout compromising safety. This limit will no doubt disappoint some but we must emphasise thevoluntary nature of Heritage Open Days. Walk leaders and speakers are giving their own knowledge,time and enthusiasm and without them Heritage Open Days would be much poorer.

Please carefully check the entry in this brochure for the event you are interested in and ensurethat you book correctly.

Cheltenham Civic Society

Cheltenham Life1914-19Parmoor HouseLypiatt Terrace GL50 2SXCheltenham Local History Society’sexhibition ‘Cheltenham Life1914-19’ showing what life waslike for the people of Cheltenhamin the First World War.

Friday 1-7pm;Saturday & Sunday 11am-4.30pmD/T

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Walk: FreeSelf Guided WalksCollect from TICThere are ten walks, written bymembers of Cheltenham LocalHistory Society and Friends ofPittville, which you can do at yourleisure. Each walk is two sides ofan A4 sheet and can be picked upfrom the Tourist InformationCentre, The Wilson, ClarenceStreet.

Thursday–Sunday

GUIDED WALKS AND TALKS –HOW TO BOOK

EXHIBITION & SELF GUIDED WALKS

HOW TO BOOK

Thursday–SundayS

Friday 11amS

Sunday 3pmS

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Walk: FreeSelf GuidedMineral Well WalkCollect from TICA new walk, especially written forHODS 2016, by a member ofCheltenham Local History Society.It takes you past 15 of the 26 knownmineral wells sites in centralCheltenham, starting at The Wilsonand ending in Vittoria Walk. For briefinformation on all twenty-six sitessee pages 13-14 in this brochure.

Photo: Wayne Finch


CHELTENHAM HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 8–11 September 2016CHELTENHAM HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 8–11 September 2016

WALKS

Walk: CheltenhamSpas WalkStart: The WilsonFinish: Cheltenham Town HallLeader: David ElderThis walk explores the town’snumerous wells, some of which arestill present, while others today arelost, hidden or forgotten. It is ledby David Elder and based on hisbook, Cheltenham Heritage Walksand lasts approximately 2 hours.Note: Pittville Pump Room not included in this walk.

Sunday 10am-12noon. Pre-bookand collect ticket from the TICS

4544

Walk: Pittville –a spa too far?Start: Pittville GatesFinish: Pittville Pump RoomLeader: Graham GageA walk through Pittville, conceivedin the 1820s by local landownerJoseph Pitt as an ambitious schemeto develop a private estate builtaround the magnificent Pump Room.What could possibly go wrong?The walk ends at the Pump Roomwhere you can taste the waters.

Sunday 10-11.30am. Pre-bookand collect ticket from the TICS


WALKS

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Walk: Cheltenhamin the Great WarStart: The WilsonFinish: Parmoor HouseLeader: Neela MannNeela Mann, author of ‘Cheltenhamin the Great War’ takes you ona walk with stories of people andbuildings showing Cheltenham’scontribution to WW1. The walkends at Cheltenham Local HistorySociety’s exhibition ‘CheltenhamLife 1914-19’.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday 2-3.30pmPre-book and collect ticket fromthe TIC. No children under 11

Walk: Cheltenham’sGeneral HospitalStart & Finish: CheltenhamGeneral Hospital, SandfordRoad (meet on main entrance steps)

Leader: Heather AtkinsonWalk around original buildings,and later extensions looking atthe history of the hospital, fundingbefore the NHS, wartime provisionof services and recent cancerservices. A Cheltenham LocalHistory Society event.

Saturday & Sunday 2pm. Pre-bookand collect ticket from the TIC

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Walk: EdwardWilson WalkStart: The WilsonFinish: Cheltenham CollegeLeader: David ElderThis walk celebrates the life andachievements of Cheltenham’sAntarctic explorer, Dr. EdwardAdrian Wilson (1872-1912) takingin many of the sites associated withhim, including a visit to CheltenhamCollege to see the chapel windowdedicated to his memory.

Saturday 10am-12noon. Pre-bookand collect ticket from the TIC

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Walk: Guided Walkof RegencyCheltenhamStart: The WilsonFinish: The PromenadeLeader: Mary MoxhamExplore the development ofthis Regency Spa town; discoverarchitectural highlights andsignificant personalities inCheltenham’s history.

Saturday 11am. Pre-book andcollect ticket from the TICS

Walk: The PittvillePump Room & Estate– what a story!Start: Central Cross CaféFinish: Pittville Pump RoomLeader: Judy LanghornA walk through the Grade II listedpleasure grounds of the PittvilleEstate to explore the grand visionof Joseph Pitt and the trials andtribulations that dogged his project.Walk culminates at Pittville PumpRoom to ‘take the waters’.

Friday 9.30-11am. Pre-bookand collect ticket from the TICS

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Walk: The PrestburyYou Didn’t KnowStart & Finish: Church Lane(by the side of the pharmacy)Leader: Roger BeachamAn hour’s gentle stroll alongPrestbury High Street. See thechildhood home of the poet AliceMeynell and the Georgian housebuilt for a mistress. Hear aboutTennyson’s time at a hydro andsee the war grave of a hero ofthe Battle of Waterloo.

Thursday 2.30-3.30pm. Pre-bookand collect ticket from the TIC

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Walk: Tivoli in90 MinutesStart & Finish: St Stephen’sChurchLeader: Adrian BarlowExploring what the architectureof the streets around Tivoli cantell us about the evolving growthand character of Tivoli today.

Saturday 10.30am. Pre-bookby calling Sue on 07905 307859

This is a summary of what is known of thetwenty-six distinct commercially-operated mineralwells in existence in Cheltenham since the early18th century and their present locations, as faras it is possible to tell. The wells are listed inchronological order of each well’s establishment.

1The Original or Old Well, discovered c1716,commercially exploited by Henry Skillicorne.

The well was demolished to make way for the PrincessHall of Cheltenham Ladies’ College in 1895-97.

2 The King’s Well or Royal Spa, in Overton Road,between the lane leading to Malvern Road and

Sidney Lodge. Sidney Lodge is the site of the originalFauconberg House in which King George III stayedwhen he visited Cheltenham for five weeks in 1788,thus making the town a fashionable place to visit andtake the waters.

3 Original Chalybeate Spa, c1802-03, south of theUpper High Street on the east side of College

Road, just north of the entrance to Sandford Park.It is now the site of a rather derelict looking electricitysubstation.

4 Dr. Jameson’s Well or Lord Sherborne’s Well,c1802-03, sited under the Gordon Lamp,

in Lansdown Road, Montpellier.

5 Hygeia House, in Vittoria Walk, now VittoriaHouse, built and lived in by Henry Thompson

c1804 where he ran the first spa to serve theMontpellier estate.

6 Fowler’s Cottage, c1809, originally namedCambray Cottage, in modern day Rodney Street.

Confusingly it was also known as Cambray Spa(see 16 on page 14).

MINERAL WELLS OF CHELTENHAMExtracted by Neela Mann from an article ‘Cheltenham’s Mineral Wells: a Checklist’ by Steven Blakeand Oliver Bradbury from Cheltenham Local History Society Journal, 13, 1997, used with permission,and with additions by Jill Waller.


Map ref Postcode Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

All Saints’ Church GL52 2HG 10-4 12-4

Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Library GL50 4AZ 10-12

Cheltenham College Chapel and Main Building GL53 7LD 9-12

Cheltenham College Thirlestaine Long Gallery GL53 7LD 2-4

Cambray Baptist Church GL50 1JS 10.30-3.30 10.30-3.30

Cheltenham Ladies’ College GL50 3EP 1-4 1-4

Cheltenham Masonic Hall GL52 2PB 10-4

Cheltenham Minster, St Mary’s GL50 3JX 11-3 & 6-8 11-3 10-5 12-5

Cheltenham Playhouse GL53 7HG 12-4

Cheltenham Synagogue GL50 3PU 11-4

Cheltenham Town Hall GL50 1QA 10-12

Christ Church GL50 2NU 10-4 10-4 10-4 12-5

Dean Close School GL51 6HE 10 & 2 10

Holst Birthplace Museum GL52 2AY

Parmoor House GL50 2SX 1-7 11-4.30 11-4.30

Pittville Pump Room GL52 3JE 9-11 2-4 10-12

Prestbury United Reformed Church GL52 3AN 10-4

The Rock at St Peter’s Church GL51 9AH 2-4

Sandford Parks Lido GL53 7PU 11-5.30

St Andrew’s United Reformed Church GL50 1SP 10-1

St Christopher’s Church, Warden Hill GL51 3DD 2-5

St Gregory’s Church GL50 3PR 11-4 11.30-4

St Luke’s Church GL53 7HX 12-4 12-4 & 7-9 10-4 12-4

St Mary Magdalene Church, Elmstone Hardwick GL51 9TJ 10-3 12-3

St Stephen’s Church GL50 3AB 10-4

University of Gloucestershire, The Park Campus GL50 2RH 1-3 1-3

The Wilson GL50 3JT 9.30-5.15 9.30-5.15 9.30-5.15 9.30-5.15

Exhibition: Cheltenham Life 1914-19 GL50 2SX 1-7 11-4.30 11-4.30

Self Guided Walks GL50 3JT All day All day All day All day

Self Guided Walk: Mineral Well Walk GL50 3JT All day All day All day All day

Talk: Yiddish in the UK GL50 3PU 7

Talk: From Holy Wells to Regency Spas GL50 1JS 11

Talk: Having the Builders In GL50 2NU 11

Talk: From Burne-Jones to Tom Denny GL50 3JX 2.30

Talk: 19th Century Christian Reformers GL50 1JS 2.30

Talk: The History of Cheltenham Minster GL50 3JX 3

Walk: The Prestbury You Didn’t Know GL52 3AR 2.30

Walk: The Pittville Pump Room & Estate GL52 2DX 9.30

Walk: Cheltenham in the Great War GL50 3JT 2 2 2

Walk: Edward Wilson Walk GL50 3JT 10

Walk: Tivoli in 90 Minutes GL50 3AB 10.30

Walk: Guided Walk of Regency Cheltenham GL50 3JT 11

Walk: Cheltenham’s General Hospital GL53 7AN 2 2

Walk: Pittville – a Spa Too Far? GL52 2BW 10

Walk: Cheltenham Spas Walk GL50 3JT 10

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Information correct at time of going to print, © Cheltenham Civic Society. The organisers reserve the right to alter or cancel any aspects if unavoidable.Heritage Open Days events are free to explore. There may be a charge for some concerts. © Images on cover: Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham TownHall and Princess Hall, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, The Cheltenham Trust.

WHAT’S OPEN & WHEN


Acknowledgements Heritage Open Days is organised by Cheltenham Civic Society, with support and sponsorship from Cheltenham Borough Council.A very special thank you to Neela Mann, from Cheltenham Local History Society and Sarah Harvey, from Art Works Design Consultants who have providedinvaluable advice and assistance. Thank you, too, to The Cheltenham Trust and, in particular, Cheltenham Tourist Information Centre. Finally, thank you towalk leaders, speakers, and event organisers from buildings which are opening their doors to the public for its enlightenment and enjoyment.


7 Orchard Well, c1806 was situated betweenBayshill Road and Montpellier Street and may

have been the stone-lined well discovered beneath theverandah of 21 Royal Parade (Bayshill Road) in 1996.

8 Montpellier Spa opened in 1809 as a woodenbuilding by Henry Thompson and later replaced

with a colonnaded stone building and completedwith a Rotunda by Papworth in 1825. Now it isLloyds Bank with its familiar green dome.

9 Alstone Spa, c1809, is now under the roundaboutnear Waitrose.

10 Octagon Turret opened by Henry Thompsonin 1808, it stood on the site of the entrance

to Montpellier Walk until around 1843 when theMontpellier shops were built.

11Essex Well, before 1809, originally on landowned by the Earl of Essex, the site is now

occupied by Montpellier Wine Bar at 1 RotundaTerrace in Montpellier Street.

12 Bestcroft Meadow Well was where 1 LansdownPlace (today Montpellier Court) was built in

1824.

13 Sherborne Spa, opened in 1818 was laterknown as Imperial Spa and dismantled in 1837

to make way for the Queen’s Hotel and re-erected ina building behind Neptune’s Fountain. During WW1this building was the main recruitment office but wasrebuilt as The Regal Cinema in 1937 and rebuilt againas Royscot House. It is now offices, at 95 Promenade.

14 Pittville Spa – Pittville Pump Room – wasopened in 1830 and is still operating today!

15 Essex Lodge or Little Spa, Pittville, opened asa subsidiary to the Pump Room on the corner

of Pittville Lawn and Central Cross Drive. Demolishedin 1903, it was replaced with a park ticket office (until1954) and refreshment kiosk, now Central Cross Café.The tap and basin are visible but not operating.

16 Cambray Spa at the corner of Rodney Roadand Oriel Road was built in 1834, demolished

in 1938. The site was in what is now Rodney Roadcar park.

17 Park Spa was at the entrance to The Park fromPark Place in 1850 and is now occupied by a

blue and white house with a tower called ‘Cornerways’.

18 Lansdown Terrace Well, noted in 1855,was immediately behind 22 Lansdown Terrace,

through the lane between 22 and 23 LansdownTerrace.

19 Chadnor Villa Well was a spa well in 1855and a pumping house in 1884. The well’s site

is now occupied by Well House, near the corner ofWell Place and Christ Church Road.

20 Fulshaw Lodge Well, noted in 1855,stood on the site of Pumper’s Cottage near

53 Christ Church Road which held a collecting tankfor waters from all the wells in the area of Lansdownand Christ Church from which the waters werepumped to Montpellier Pump Room and downthe hill to Montpellier Baths and Salt Manufactory(now Cheltenham Playhouse).

21St. Florence Well, after 1885, stood somewhereon the north side of Eldorado Road.

22 Fieldholme Well, after 1885, was situated inthe footpath also somewhere on the north

side of Eldorado Road.

23 Douro Villa Well, c1885, was in the pavementon the north side of Lansdown Crescent,

opposite the southernmost house in Douro Road,currently Douro Lodge.

24 Tower Well was a small octagonal building,noted in 1855 and was on the site now

occupied by Côte Brasserie in Montpellier Terrace.

25 Montpellier Garden Well, noted in 1944,was on the north side of today’s Montpellier

Gardens, by Montpellier Spa Road.

26 Lansdown Lodge Well, noted in 1944, wason the north side of Lansdown Road near

a house called Lansdown Lodge (now ConsultingRooms next to Co-operative Funeral Care).

MINERAL WELLS OF CHELTENHAM continued

Tours from10.30

Designed by Art Works Design Consultants, Cheltenham. www.artworks-design.co.uk

The Pittville Subscription Book is a largeledger in which early 19th-century visitors toCheltenham recorded their subscriptions touse the facilities at the Pump Room and the

surrounding pleasure grounds. The CD gives abrief history of the Pump Room and the Book,

with over 8,000 entries from the 475 pages.The present day locations of the addresses

allows one to explore the lives of these visitorsand to chart the expansion of Cheltenham.

To order a copy contact:01242 243714 [email protected]

PITTVILLE SPASUBSCRIPTION BOOK

1830-1852 on Compact CD CheltenhamTercentenaryCivic Dinner3 November 2016 atPittville Pump RoomTickets are £60 per person and include receptiondrinks, three-course meal, coffee and petit fours,a drink for the toast.Join us in the celebration: buy individual tickets;book a table for eight or ten guests; offer additionalsupport by sponsoring a particular item such as theinvitation cards, menus, reception drinks, toasts,guest speaker, entertainment or venue hire.

Please apply to Martin Renshaw,Flat 3, Queensholme, Pittville CircusRoad, Cheltenham GL52 2QEemail: [email protected]

should be made payableto Cheltenham Civic SocietyTercentenary Dinner.Organised by Cheltenham Civic Society and Friends of The Wilson.

Cheltenham:300 years a spa town

The Promenade telephone boxes

May–September 2016

Stroll along Cheltenham’s famous Promenadeand have a peek into the red telephone boxes...inside each one, you’ll find well-known figuresfrom Cheltenham’s past.

Mary Compton, Mrs Forty, Mrs Rous, George III,Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, FredArcher, Dorothea Beale and Edward A. Wilsonall helped to shape Cheltenham’s unique history.

The Paper Store Local HistoryDisplay: 2016 – an anniversary year

June–November 2016, The WilsonCheltenham Art Gallery & Museum

Our new displays include a celebration of 2016as an anniversary year, including 300 years ofCheltenham as a spa town – highlighting famousvisitors including George III and Ernest Shackleton.

Documents

Cheltenham Heritage Open Days 2016 Brochure