Old Magnesia Well Pump Room

It was these old glass bottles, seen dimly through a window, that drew me into this cute little building in Harrogate's Valley Gardens. It turned out to be the Old Magnesia Well Pump Room, built in 1858 to enable visitors to buy and drink the mineral-rich spring water for one (old) penny per glass (though there was also a tap outside where you could help yourself for free).  Magnesia Water was believed to be a tonic and curative. 

Originally this area was known as Bogs Field on account of the large number of mineral springs. There are thirty-six of them, each arising from a different layer of rock strata and thus each different in mineral composition - some rich in sulphur, some in iron (chalybeate). It's the highest concentration of such wells in a single area known anywhere in the world. After the Valley Gardens were created around Bogs Field, demand grew and the larger New Magnesia Well Pump Room was opened in 1895, now the park's café. (See yesterday).

This pretty little building became overgrown and disused (known by local children as 'the witches' house') and then used by gardeners for storage.  In 2013 it was restored by the Friends of Valley Gardens. 

Inside you can see the original pump, sink and tap - and an old photo of Mr Wilford, who was its guardian and who served the drinks. 

Some of the other well heads can be seen in the Gardens. The one with the pineapple finial (furthest away) is the Magnesia Well and the near one, with an acorn atop, is the Chalybeate Well. Waters were pumped from the springs to the Royal Baths, the Royal Bath Hospital and the Royal Pump Room to be used for treatments.