Drink, traveler, and with strength renewed. That’s the inscription you’ll find at The Chalybeate Well. It’s a reminder of a time when Hampstead’s spring waters were thought to have healing powers. This well has a fascinating history. It intertwines with the health, wealth, and even the scandals of 18th-century London.
Let’s step back to the late 17th century. The high ground of Hampstead Heath has a unique geology. Rainwater easily passes through layers of sand. It then meets a barrier of London Clay. This creates springs rich in minerals. One such spring became known as The Chalybeate Well. Chalybeate means the water contains iron.
In 1698, the Earl of Gainsborough and his mother, the Countess, donated six acres of land around the well to benefit Hampstead’s poor. They referred to them as “the Wells lately made there for medicinal waters”. This gift led to the creation of the Wells Charity. Trustees sought to develop the springs. They believed in the water’s medicinal properties.
Advertisements from the early 1700s promoted The Chalybeate Well. It stated that the waters were equal in virtue to Tunbridge Wells. Eminent physicians approved it. Flasks of water were even sold in London. A sealed ticket guaranteed the water’s authenticity. The image was a wolf rampant.
The waters were bottled near the present-day pub called The Flask. However, the source wasn’t the well itself. It was a spring and pond further up the hill. The trustees saw further opportunities. In 1701, John Duffield leased the land. He constructed buildings to enhance the springs. These included a Great Room, Assembly Rooms, and a Pump Room. A tavern, chapel, shops, formal gardens, and a bowling green soon followed.
These rooms provided various entertainments. There were concerts of vocal and instrumental music. Dancing was also a common pastime. The Great Room could hold 500 people. This indicates the scale of the operation.
The Chalybeate Well’s popularity grew. Londoners flocked to Hampstead. However, scandals and trouble at the tavern began. The poor of Hampstead didn’t benefit from the land. John Duffield hadn’t paid his rent. The trust became ineffective.
Despite these challenges, efforts continued to promote the waters. During the 19th century, houses replaced the 18th-century buildings. The original public basin stood across the road from the current well. The present Chalybeate Well was built around 1882.
Unfortunately, water has never flowed freely from this well. Sewer construction disrupted the underground water flow. Even if it did, the water wouldn’t be safe to drink. An analysis in 1884 revealed it was mixed with surface water. A pure chalybeate water could not be obtained.
In 1907, George Potter noted that obtaining even a moderate draft of water would take an hour. He also stated that it would probably not be very appealing. Despite sinking shafts, finding a usable water source proved difficult. Doctors warned that drinking the water could harm health.
Potter described the well as “a fountain without water”. He called it “a monument to commemorate the memory of the departed glories of the once famous Hampstead Spa.” The Well Charity still exists today as the Hampstead Wells and Campden Trust. It is rooted in the original donation.
The Chalybeate Well is a reminder of Hampstead’s past. It has shaped the area’s development. It provided street names like Well Walk and Well Passage. The artist John Constable lived on Well Walk. He painted views of London from his house. The Flask pub recalls the bottling of the spring water.
Although the water no longer flows, the well remains. It reminds us of the importance of geology. It shows us how it has shaped London’s history. The Chalybeate Well stands as a monument. It commemorates a time when Hampstead’s waters were believed to hold the key to health and vitality.