Victorian Slaithwaite Very Posh
“Welcome back to our channel! Today, we’re exploring a hidden gem with a rich history tucked away in Yorkshire. Join us as we uncover the story of Slaithwaite Spa, once known as the ‘Harrogate of the Colne Valley
Think of spa towns and you may think of Buxton, Harrogate or Scarborough. Now add to that list Slaithwaite – yes Slaithwaite!
This industrial town of great mills, weavers’ cottages and back-to-backs had once been a spa town of renown. It flourished for nearly 100 years and was described in Victorian times as the Harrogate of the Colne Valley.
In all probability the commercial potential of Slaithwaite’s two mineral springs was first realised in the early 1800s.
The Earl of Dartmouth owned much of the land in Slaithwaite and allowed the Huddersfield Narrow Canal to be built across his estate by 1800.
Civil engineers would have brought to his attention the nearby springs coming from the river bed of the River Colne.
The early 1800s was a time of spa mania and the opportunity to build a spa on this site was all too obvious. It was widely believed that nastiness of smell and taste implied the healing virtues of spring water.
Richard Varley was a Slaithwaite corn merchant and miller. Since he was a leading businessman in the town he was given the position of steward to the Dartmouth estate in Slaithwaite. Varley took a lead in building the spa. Here was an opportunity to put his home town on the map.
Being an entrepreneurial sort, Varley decided to make a profit from the springs. He quickly built stout stone walls around the springs and cut them off from contaminating river waters.
In 1825 he opened a spa bath and swimming pool on the site of the sulphur and iron springs. In 1836 he directly leased the spa from the Earl of Dartmouth and his family kept this lease until the 1880s.