MINERAL WATERS AND MEDICINAL SPRINGS OF ESSEX. 11
Seetfountaynes, and to have derived this name from seven
notable springs which existed within the parish.10 It has been
stated11 that these were "medicinal springs"; but we can find
no evidence that they were so. Apparently they were merely
ordinary fresh-water springs.
The earliest Essex Mineral Well of which we have been able
to discover any record is
(1.)—The Wanstead Spring, which was discovered early in the
Seventeenth Century. John Chamberlain, the news-letter
writer, writing from London to Sir Dudley Carleton, on
23 August 1619; says12: —
". . . We have great noise here of a new Spaa, or spring of that
nature, found lately about Wansted ; and much running there is to yt dayly, both
by Lords and Ladies and other great companie, so that they have almost drawne
yt drie alredy; and, yf yt should hold on, yt wold put downe the waters at
Tunbridge; wch, for these three or foure yeares, have ben much frequented,
specially this summer, by many great persons ; insomuch that they wch have
seene both say that yt [i.e., Tunbridge] is not inferior to the Spaa [in Belgium]
for goode companie, numbers of people, and other appurtenances."
We have been quite unable to ascertain anything as to the
part of Wanstead parish in which this spring was situated. In
all probability, it was quite a small spring. One may infer as
much from Chamberlain's statement that, within a short time
of its discovery, the company resorting to it had "almost drawn
it dry." If such was the case, the spring was, no doubt, soon
deserted and ultimately forgotten.
Mr. Walter Crouch, F.Z.S., of Wanstead, whose knowledge
of the history of the parish is unequalled, writes us :—
"I have always had the idea that this Mineral Spring was not at the Park
end of our parish, which abuts on Bushwood and Wanstead Flats, but in the
vicinity of Snaresbrook and on the road which leads to Walthamstow ; but it is
possible that it was in the grounds of 'The Grove' (now cut up and built over).
The spring is not marked on Kip's View (1710), nor on Rocque's large Map
(1735), nor on Rocque's still larger map of a few years later."
Under the guidance of Mr. W. Ping, F.C.S., of Wanstead,
Mr. Christy has visited two springs at Snaresbrook—namely,
that known as the "Birch Well," in the Forest, near the Eagle
Pond, and a spring in the grounds of "The Hermitage" ; but
10 A member of the Baudwin or Baldwin family, in 1320, styles himself Badewinus de
Wokyndon Setfontans (see Morant, Hist, of Essex, i., p. 102).
11 T. L, Wilson, Upminster, 2nd ed., p. 19 (1880).
12 State Papers, Dom., Jas. I., CX.. no. 26. We are indebted to Mr. G. E. Tasker, of
Ilford, for calling our attention to this letter.