Name: Chalybeate Well
Region: High Barmston, Washington
Date of Origin: Unknown. May be 19th century due to popularity of chalybeate wells at this point
Site Type: Well
Condition: Unknown
Status: The site is unoccupied woodland. As a result there may be potential remains.
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Last Updated: 24/05/2020
Address: 54.893415, -1.487962, on the banks of the Wear to the west of Edale Close
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The well at High Barmston is featured on the first few Ordnance Survey editions. The significance of this well is down to it being Chalybeate, which is a well depositing water filled with minerals and iron. Chalybeate waters were extremely popular in the 19th century, and helped promote towns and resorts like Tynemouth, Harrogate and Scarborough with their "healing properties". As a result, the well at Barmston may have promised the same qualities by a local entrepeneur, selling off this water as high quality. There is not much other information concerning this spring, nor the one over the water in Cox Green, but it is still important as it represented an era of betterment and leisure. The development of Barmston may have been a product of this well, and certainly wouldn't have been visible on the OS map if it wasn't important to the area.
This first edition map shows the area of High Barmston and the location of the well. The well is east of where it says 'Spring'. It may be the case where the well wasn't built as of yet, because the chalybate springs were an ongoing phenomenon at the time, however it may still be respesented by the small circle. The Royal Oak public house can also be seen on the other side of the river, which doesn't appear in any other editions.
The spa well can be seen at this point at the turn of the century. In contrast to the first edition, the well must have become more significant over time due to its water supply. A path led directly from High Barmston to the well which highlights its importance to the village.
The well is now named the 'Spa Well', probably due to its novelty and history. The fact it is still named as a feature is worth mentioning as others in the area are now indistinguishable. It is also worth noting the group of buildings at High Barmston no longer exist, and is instead in woodland.
This first edition map shows the area of High Barmston and the location of the well. The well is east of where it says 'Spring'. It may be the case where the well wasn't built as of yet, because the chalybate springs were an ongoing phenomenon at the time, however it may still be respesented by the small circle. The Royal Oak public house can also be seen on the other side of the river, which doesn't appear in any other editions.