In search of Holy Wells and Healing Springs
St Andrews Spa, now demolished - Dr Mc Cabe water source.
Hastings Online Times
The Natural Iron Brew that bubbles up in Alexandra Park.
Click HERE for the HOT story by Jude Montague
The streamside Walk
The Streamside Walk north of the viaduct that allows St Helens Road to pass above the gill is open to visitors without hindrance but the Streamside Walk between the viaduct and Buckshole reservoir is officially closed (May 2023). The HBC website that promotes leisure locations has the following message:Parts of 'Streamside Walk' are closed for health and safety reasons. These closures are clearly sign with nearby diversions. The site is owned and managed by Hastings Borough Council.
Officers of HBC and elected members have failed to provide the details of the Risk assessment that caused Hastings to consider the closure of this popular streamside route or the route of the diversions.
Officers of HBC and elected members have failed to provide the details of the Risk assessment that caused Hastings to consider the closure of this popular streamside route or the route of the diversions.
Holy Wells & Healing Springs
A splendid site that offers information on Holy Wells and Healing Springs made the following comments about the Bohemia Roman Bath and the informative website that deserves a visit covers many locations.
"The final site is perhaps the least well-known but is more rewarding and impressive. This is the Roman Bath, laying enclosed romantically in the wooded hillside below the Leisure center on Bohemia Road in what remains of the Summerfield estate. Despite what a leaflet distributed in Hastings in the early 20th century which offered 3d guided tours of what it claims was built in AD51 by King Caractus, it was certainly built by Wastel Brisco who commissioned the building after obtaining the estate in 1831.
The building is made of sandstone and some cement with a retaining wall of about 12 feet in height. On either side were steps, although those on the left are better preserved. These led to a viewing platform over the bath. The bath itself is a rectangular 15 feet by 8 feet sandstone pool with four or three worn cement steps gaining access to its debris-strewn but clear waters. The spring which feeds the pool arises in a grotto and once through a lion’s head, now stolen into the pool. A Romanesque archway with colonettes covers this springhead which once had a lion’s head keystone and this is the most impressive of the remaining features. Early depictions show a circular structure with an arched entrance which may have been a changing room if the bath was of course used or alternatively covered by another spring as there is possible evidence of this where this was located. There does not appear to be any evidence of stonework from this structure, which indicates a degree of more organized vandalism of the site perhaps. The runoff channel which carried the water to the stream below is exposed although early photos show it stone-lined.
Hasting’s Roman Bath is, without doubt, the most impressive of the town’s water supplies and deserves to be known better. It is pleasing to see that there is local interest in preserving it and hopefully, the vandalism which has gone on will now cease."
The comment above is from insearchofholywellsandhealingsprings.com/?s=HASTINGS
In addition to the above comment, the above website covers many locations including Hastings with The East Hill Well at Rock a Nore. The spring and font at St Mary in the Castle, the Chalybeate Spring at Alexandra Park, and Dr. Peter Mc Cabes Spring at Alexandra Park
"The final site is perhaps the least well-known but is more rewarding and impressive. This is the Roman Bath, laying enclosed romantically in the wooded hillside below the Leisure center on Bohemia Road in what remains of the Summerfield estate. Despite what a leaflet distributed in Hastings in the early 20th century which offered 3d guided tours of what it claims was built in AD51 by King Caractus, it was certainly built by Wastel Brisco who commissioned the building after obtaining the estate in 1831.
The building is made of sandstone and some cement with a retaining wall of about 12 feet in height. On either side were steps, although those on the left are better preserved. These led to a viewing platform over the bath. The bath itself is a rectangular 15 feet by 8 feet sandstone pool with four or three worn cement steps gaining access to its debris-strewn but clear waters. The spring which feeds the pool arises in a grotto and once through a lion’s head, now stolen into the pool. A Romanesque archway with colonettes covers this springhead which once had a lion’s head keystone and this is the most impressive of the remaining features. Early depictions show a circular structure with an arched entrance which may have been a changing room if the bath was of course used or alternatively covered by another spring as there is possible evidence of this where this was located. There does not appear to be any evidence of stonework from this structure, which indicates a degree of more organized vandalism of the site perhaps. The runoff channel which carried the water to the stream below is exposed although early photos show it stone-lined.
Hasting’s Roman Bath is, without doubt, the most impressive of the town’s water supplies and deserves to be known better. It is pleasing to see that there is local interest in preserving it and hopefully, the vandalism which has gone on will now cease."
The comment above is from insearchofholywellsandhealingsprings.com/?s=HASTINGS
In addition to the above comment, the above website covers many locations including Hastings with The East Hill Well at Rock a Nore. The spring and font at St Mary in the Castle, the Chalybeate Spring at Alexandra Park, and Dr. Peter Mc Cabes Spring at Alexandra Park