The British spa came into its own in the Georgian period, with thousands flocking to take the waters at Bath, Cheltenham and Tunbridge Wells as well as numerous other towns. As these towns grew, their reputation as destinations for fashionable society became as important - if not more so - than the benefits of bathing, which in any case often involved immersion in a mix of pure spa mineral water and an often filthy swill of dirt and sickly bodies.
Ian Rotherham here traces the story of spa bathing from Roman and medieval times, through its heyday in Georgian and Victorian Britain, up to its demise in the twentieth century and recent revival. With a wealth of colourful illustrations, this book is a perfect introduction to changing attitudes to public bathing and health, and a fascinating look at the spa-related rise of some of Britain’s most famous towns.
