The county of Huntingdon tho’ one of the smallest, contains several springs of different kinds,some for common, and others for medicinal purposes. Mr CAMDEN gives the earliest account of the Purgative Salt Waters at Hail-Weston; and a later writer, the anonymous compiler of Magna Britannia Antiqua & Nova, published in 1720, mentions, that St. Neots, and St. Ives, were famous for Medicinal Waters; but as no springs of such a nature are found within the limits of those towns, they probably became noted by the residence of such persons who come to drink and use the purging Hail-Weston Waters. Either internally or outwardly, which are situated at about one mile and a half from St. Neots; or by the concourse of those who came to drink the Chalybeate Waters on Somersham Heath about the distance of two miles and a half from St. Ives. Mr. CAMDEN takes no notice of the pure and excellent water, known at Huntingdon, from its situation, by the name of Huntingdon Horse-Common Water; of the pure limpid spring in Holywell Church-Yard much more famed in superstitious times for its great purity than any medicinal property; or of the Chalybeate Waters of NillWell or St. Agnes Well in Papworth St. Agnes; at Elton Hall; Lord CARYSFORT’s seat, and other light Chalbeate springs rising in Salome wood, Huntingdon town, and many other places; nor did he probably know of a very strong briny spring in a close belonging to Sir ROBERT BERNARD Bart. at Bury near Ramsey.

For Medicinal purposes, the waters chiefly to be recommended in this county are the three following; 1. The pure and limpid water called Horse-Common Water at Huntingdon, remarkable for its softness and little sediment. 2. The Purgative and Alterative Waters at Hail-Weston, noted for there being three wells of different properties and uses very near each other. And 3. The Chalybeate SOMERSHAM Water. The first mentioned springs in Hail-Weston and Huntingdon may hereafter be made know, but in these pages I confine myself to the account of the SOMERSHAM Water.

The SOMERSHAM Water, commonly called the SOMERSHAM SPA, issues for the from the declivity of a small hill, which is situated on a heath, bearing the same name, and lying near the high road, between the towns of St. Ives and SOMERSHAM in the county of Huntingdon, about two miles and a half or three miles distant from St. Ives. This heath was formerly cover’d by part of the royal forests, cut down in the reign of HENRY II, III or of EDWARD I and now serves for the grazing of sheep. Neither by record or tradition is it known when the SOMERSHAM Water was discovered; the earliest account to be depended upon is, that the SOMERSHAM Water having been drank at the end of the last century, but afterwards neglected, was revived under the patronage of the late Right Rev. Dr. MORE Lord Bishop of Ely who much delighted in the study of Natural History and Physic. Drs. ADDENBROKE and ASHENHURST of Cambridge and Dr. FULLWOOD of Huntingdon, not only examined this water, but made use of it in their practice.


About fifty years ago His Grace WILLIAM late Duke of MANCHESTER, the late Right Hon. EDWARD Lord Viscount HINCHINBROOK, Dr. WAKE Lord Bishop of LINCOLN, with the chief of the gentry and clergy in the counties of Cambridge and Huntingdon, joined in a subscription for erecting a house near the Spring, and by the indefatigable pains of the late rev. Dr. SAMUEL KNIGHT, Prependary of Ely, and Rector of Bluntisham, a house was fitted up, a bowling green, and proper accommodations were made.