Monument record 1737 - Horsley Bath

<1> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 55805 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Bathing pool. Dated 1684 on inscribed tablet which read:-

Sinitati Sacrum Obstructum reserat Duruinterit Humida Siccat
Debile fortificat Sitamen arte bibis Dan jackson Scul P Anno D 1684

Which being translated, is:

To fortify the sacred soundness of the body this was dug in the hard dry earth to strengthen the infirm and soundly quench the thirsty.

Red sandstone ashlar rendered with cement with paved sandstone surround. Square pool with a flight of stone steps to one of the corners and to the corner diagonally opposite a spout allowing the water to fall into a dished bowl. To one side amidst a rockery of roughly hewn stone is the rectangular datestone which has a moulded border. To one side of the pool is the well which is similar of rectangular plan and has a set of steps leading down into it.

<2> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.III p.303-4 (Book). SCH3228.

'…The bath was an eighteenth century spa which developed at Horseley Spring…'

<3> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.II p.295 (Book). SCH1389.

Ormerod makes reference to a mineral spring that was recently discovered in this township and was subject to study by a Mr. Whittel in 1816, together with an analysis of other springs in Spurstow and Peckforton.

‘…It rises about a quarter of a mile from the Horseley spring, and about three from that of Spurstow, from under one of the strata forming the base of Beeston Castle Hill. It is not the surface spring, but pushes up through a very porous red sandstone. There are altogether about ten places where this water rises, in a narrow lane, at the top of which stands a farmhouse, and a blacksmith's shop; but the situation is at present so concealed, that a person would experience some difficulty in finding it…’.

<4> Cheshire County Council, 1974, County Treasures Record, 6/A.448 (Index). SCH1000.

Bath alleged to be site of Roman bath but no evidence. Site once provided water for Peckforton Estate, but now deteriorated and water contaminated.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ55 NW 8 (Index). SCH2487.