145 Malvern Water

By Lisa Ventura

We love to drink this famous water but did you know the facts?

First assessed in the 1750’s by Dr John Wall, a Worcester Physician, Malvern Water was analysed as being exceptionally pure in content. His famous quote was: “The Malvern water is famed for containing nothing at all”

Together with a Mr Danridge, they were jointly appointed as receivers for a subscription fund to make the waters more beneficial and commodious. This inevitably was the first step in Malvern as tourist attraction. In the 17th century Malvern Water was sent all over the country and the Holy Well, was now classified as part of Malvern Wells, became a place of pilgrimage for the ill and disabled, believing the water to be a cure.

In 1842 a young Dr James Wilson enthusiastically proclaimed the waters suitable for cures of all kinds and made enough money in three years to pay for a hydro pathetic establishment, Preisnitz House, which still exists, and now known as Park View.

The success in the water cure attracted thousands of well to do visitors to Malvern to take the waters placing themselves in the care of Dr Wilson, and other Dr’s who embarked on the enterprise.

The water cure itself was expensive costing between four and five pounds a week per person, therefore this was only for the wealthy in society. However, by the early 1860’s with the opening of the railway line, Malvern was competing with old established Spa Towns such as Bath.

The 19th century saw a bitter legal dispute of ownership of the spring water and by the early 20th century J H Cuffs bottled the water and sold it all over the country.