Spadacrene Anglica | Page 8

of Mineral waters.[13] The summary by Short of
Chapter 6
of "Spadacrene Anglica" is as follows:--
"This fifth Spaw is a Mile and half from Knaresburgh, up a very gentle
ascent, near Harrigate, has much the same Situation as the foresaid
Spaws in Germany. It was discovered first about fifty years ago, by one
Mr. William Slingsby, who had travelled in Germany in his younger
Years, seen, and been acquainted with theirs; and as he was of an
ancient Family near the place, so he had fine Parts and was a capable
Judge. He lived some time at a Grange-House near it; then removed to
Bilton-Park, where he spent the rest of his Days. He, using this Water
yearly, found it exactly like the German Spaw. He made several Tryals
of it, then walled it about, and paved it in the bottom with two large
Stone-flags, with a Hole in their sides for the free Access of the Water,
which springs up only at the bottom, through a Chink or Cranny left on
purpose. Its current is always near the same, and is about the quantity
of the Sauvenir, to which Mr. Slingsby thought it preferable being more
brisk and lively, fuller of Mineral Spirits, of speedier Operation; he
found much benefit by it. Dr. Tim. Bright, about thirty years ago, first
gave it the name of the English Spaw: Having spent some time at those
in Germany, he was Judge of both; and had so good an Opinion of ours,
that he sent many Patients hither yearly, and every Summer drank the
Waters himself. And Dr. Anthony Hunter, late Physician at
Newark-upon-Trent, often chided us Physicians in York, for not
writing upon it, and deservedly setting it upon the Wings of Fame."
A more consistent form has been given to the error by Grainge, who in
1862 published a memoir of the Life of Sir William Slingsby,
Discoverer of the first Spaw at Harrogate. Grainge, like Hargrove, had
only access to Short's summary, but he sees the difficulty to which I
have alluded, for he writes[14]:--

"From the uncertain expression of the Dr. 'about 50 years ago' the date
of this discovery is generally fixed in the year 1576, though it is
probably twenty years or more too early, as at that time Slingsby would
only be fourteen years of age: and could not have travelled much in
Germany or elsewhere: while the expression 'in his younger days'
would infer that the discovery was not made until he had attained
middle age at least."
Grainge accordingly dates Captain (or Sir) William Slingsby's
discovery to 1596 or later, the origin of the expression "near the close
of the 16th Century" of the recognised history.
In the first place Dr. Short is inaccurate in that Deane states it was
discovered "55" years ago, and not "50." In the second place, the only
authority whom Grainge could rely upon was Deane, either directly or
indirectly, and Deane could not have made the discoverer to be a boy of
nine years of age (not fourteen) for he must have known Sir William
Slingsby, a contemporary. Finally, Grainge only consulted the
summary of "Spadacrene Anglica" and not the actual work, and it is to
be noted that Deane in Chapter 6 says the first discoverer "so far forth
as I can learn." These words are not in the summary, but they show that
Deane had given care to his work, and if Sir William Slingsby had been
the discoverer, Deane could have obtained his information at first hand,
and would have given Sir William Slingsby as his authority.
Grainge was an eminent and careful historian, and he has written a
number of valuable works. He had the acumen to see that Sir William
Slingsby could not possibly have been the discoverer in 1571, and it is
fairly certain that if he had had access to Deane's work, he would have
rectified the error as regards Sir William, instead of questioning the
accuracy of Deane's statement.
Little has been added to the account of Mr. William Slingsby as given
by Deane, but it has been shown at any-rate that the facts of his life fit
in perfectly with that account.
The medicinal qualities of the Tuewhit Well having been discovered by
Mr. William Slingsby in or about the year 1571, this gentleman did

"drink the water every yeare after all his life time" and averred that "it
was much better, and did excell the tart fountaines beyond the seas."
Much pains were taken to bring the waters into notoriety in the interests
of humanity, and by reason of a pardonable national pride that the
country could boast of a health resort in every way comparable with the
famous German health resort of Spa. Chief among these early