Well, Well

I did warn you I may be on a 'well' theme. This is the Royal Pump Room, the site of a sulphur well, apparently the strongest in Europe. You can certainly smell it as you pass by!

The octagonal building was built in 1842 by Issac Shutt. The whole building is now a museum with displays of the bizarre treatments that made the town a favourite with the Victorians. In its heyday as a spa town over 15,000 people came every summer to benefit from the treatments.

To the left of the door under the blue plaque is a small tap where the water can still be tasted. Visitors can often be spotted having a drink; I won't describe what they do afterwards.... Suffice to say, they don't go back for a second mug full!

Just in case anyone wants to know, the inscription "Arx Celebris Fontibus" translates as "A citadel famous for its springs". (I didn't know that either!)