The Chalybeate Spring in The Pantiles Tunbridge Wells Kent
by James Brunker
Title
The Chalybeate Spring in The Pantiles Tunbridge Wells Kent
Artist
James Brunker
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
The Pantiles is a beautiful Georgian colonnade and the most famous tourist attraction in Tunbridge Wells. The town owes its existance to the discovery of this chalybeate spring by Dudley Lord North in 1606 at one end of what is now The Pantiles. These rapidly became famous for their supposed healing properties, with visitors including members of the Royal Family and aristocracy. Many of the buildings date from the late 17th century, when the street was redeveloped after a fire in 1687. The bath house was built around the springs in 1804 and the facade restored in 1987. Tourists can still taste the waters in the summer months, which have a strong metallic taste to due the presence of especially iron (the Weald of Kent was an important iron producing region in the Middle Ages) and other minerals.
Photograph © James Brunker. Reproduction, transmission, publication or use in any form without written permission strictly prohibited.
Uploaded
October 28th, 2023
Embed
Share
Comments
There are no comments for The Chalybeate Spring in The Pantiles Tunbridge Wells Kent. Click here to post the first comment.