Woodhal spa baths, August 2015

[MrT]

After spending the night under the stars taking pictures of meteors and star trails over Kirkstead Abbey I decided to refresh in the local outdoor swimming pool and bask in the sunshine before taken a peek at the baths on the way home. I visit the pool and cinema in the woods pretty regular but the baths are not worth the trouble. I heard building work was underway and wanted a picture of the engine room as I visited the engine that's in a museum the previous week.

Woodhall Spa came about by accident in 1811 after John Parkinson, of Old Bolingbroke made several attempts to find coal. After spending several thousand pounds, and sinking a shaft over 1,000 feet deep, the enterprise was abandoned on account of the now rising spring water.

About 1834, the then Lord of the Manor, Thomas Hotchkin, ascertained by analysis that the water was in fact valuable, being an iodine and bromine containing mineral spring. He spent nearly £30,000 sinking the well and erecting the Spa Baths.

On 21st September 1983 the well collapsed, amongst other things this see the doors shut for good.

Nearly 30 years on and they will open once more, latest news... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-29075897

More detailed information on the baths here.... http://www.woodhallspa.org/heritage_spabaths.html

Entrance

Floor plans

Pump room

Engine room demolished

Not a great report but a bit of history and an update

 

[Bonesout]

Great stuff. I do love before and after stuff. Thanks.

I remember someone once had originals from Severalls, then found the time to hunt out where they were taken and do a before and after. Given the size of Sevs that was something else, I so wish I could remember who it was, and where they were put on line...

 

[hamtagger]

Bloody hell I was just looking at this online the other day as I noticed an article in the paper saying they were going to renovate the place and make it a working pool again. Liking the look of that old pump thing, might pop over for a quick sniff sometime as it's pretty close to me

 

[hamtagger]

Great stuff. I do love before and after stuff. Thanks.I remember someone once had originals from Severalls, then found the time to hunt out where they were taken and do a before and after. Given the size of Sevs that was something else, I so wish I could remember who it was, and where they were put on line...

I remember that too, wish I could remember who it was. I think session9 done something similar too

 

[MrT]

Engine is in Lincolnshire life museum. Not much to see at all, was in area so. Place/area is full of history.

 

[skeleton key]

A very nice write there and pics old and new.

Its great to hear that it will be coming back in to use.

Thanks for sharing