When was cheltenham built

Skillicorne then leased the spa to Thomas Hughes, who sent the water in large quantities to agents in various parts of the country, including the mineral-water manufacturer Mr Thomas Davies of St Albans Street. In Skillicorne made the Upper Walk, planting thirty-seven elm and lime trees and made a new orchard adjoining and in the winter of made the Lower Walk, planting ninety-six elms.

Built a yard round it and 18 little houses. The summer of was very dry. Had subscribers at the wells. In another room was built, two stories high and in the well was augmented by an avenue of elm trees, which went by the name of Well Walk and reached for yards or so along the slopes of Bayshill.

Cheltenham may still not have been more than a one-street country market town at this point, but it was starting to attract the rich and famous — visiting celebrities included George Frederick Handel, Samuel Johnson, the poet William Shenstone and various aristocrats.

When Henry Skillcorne died in his son William took over the spa, leasing it out to a William Miller in London and rejuvenating the area by building a new 60 ft assembly room, known as the Long Room, later a residence for the pumper Mrs Forty.

On 12 July King George III arrived in town to take the waters on the advice of his doctors, accompanied by Queen Charlotte and their three eldest daughters. Unfortunately it turns out that the monarch was probably suffering the early stages of a rare genetic disorder as he also displayed symptoms such as rashes, cramps, difficulty breathing and mood swings. Nevertheless, whilst he was in town George appeared to enjoy himself and was seen quaffing at the well, going for strolls, attending the theatre and riding out into the countryside.

Giving the waters a hearty endorsement, the spa became known as Royal Well, dramatically boosting its fortunes. Whilst they remained in town the royal party lived in a house in Bayshill loaned to them by Lord Fauconberg. The change was not immediate, however, owing to the blight of the Napoleonic wars and the resulting lack of cash for building, but by the early nineteenth century the town was once again booming as a spa resort and notables arriving in the town to sample the waters included Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens and Liszt.

By the start of the s, Cheltenham was attracting thousands of visitors. In order to meet growing demand, further spas began to appear. The oldest remaining example is found in Vittoria Walk and was founded by London financier Henry Thompson. Thompson, who bought the land upon which the Montpellier and Lansdown estates were developed, built Hygeia House as his own private residence in fields along the Bath Road and sunk around eighty boreholes to have water piped and dispensed directly to the property.

The baths were constructed by Thompson as a laboratory for the distillation of the Cheltenham spa salts, which were then sold to customers all over the world.

In later years the baths became a hydropathic establishment offering medicinal baths before later becoming a swimming pool and public baths. By Thompson had also opened the Montpellier Spa at the top of Montpellier. Initially covered by a wooden structure, it was later replaced by a grand, porticoed stone building suitable for balls and assemblies and a rival to the original Royal Well. Founded in by local architects the Jearrad Brothers, the design was modelled on on the Temple of Jupiter in Rome.

This was transformed into an attractive tree-lined avenue and the spa itself was set amongst extensive pleasure grounds, most of which still survive as Imperial Gardens. Pittville Pump Room is a beautiful, historic Grade One listed property set in parkland at Pittville used for cultural, commercial and community events Welcome to Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre; an intimate community theatre set in a Regency period building. The Promenade and Long Gardens. Cheltenham's famous Promenade dates back to at the height of the Regency period, when the avenue of elms and horse chestnut trees was first planted.

See History in real life at Holst; Regency. Holst Birthplace Museum. This Regency terraced house where the composer of 'The Planets' was born, shows the 'upstairs downstairs' way of life in Victorian times Skip To Main Content. Downloadable Map Contact Cheltenham. Print Page Email Page. Don't Miss. Regency Architecture of Cheltenham. Explore Cheltenham's Regency heritage through our extensive architectural delights Celebrating years of spa history; find out how health and wellness helped shape our town See History in real life at Holst; Regency.

From spas to Royals and of course Promenading, the Regency period was the time to see and be seen. This insight from Cheltenham Civic Society has the lowdown The Promenade and Long Gardens. Cheltenham's famous Promenade dates back to at the height of the Regency period, when the avenue of elms and horse chestnut trees was first planted.

Holst Birthplace Museum. This Regency terraced house where the composer of 'The Planets' was born, shows the 'upstairs downstairs' way of life in Victorian times Pittville Pump Room is a beautiful, historic Grade One listed property set in parkland at Pittville used for cultural, commercial and community events Welcome to Cheltenham Playhouse Theatre; an intimate community theatre set in a Regency period building. Pittville Park's Regency Heritage.