The Old Wells and Springs of Wigan.
An article written in 1889 by Dr. Prosser White, an eminent Victorian dermatologist, describing and discussing the old wells and springs in Wigan.
Without some stable record ancient facts become blurred or blotted out and fables foul the truth. Memory fails us as time passes, and bygones are dimmed by the receding years. Even outstanding landmarks disappear or are changed out of recognition in the pursuit of progress and the ruthless rush for gain.
It is a pity quite to lose sight of the old links in the social and industrial life, and the history of our town. Many of these are hidden away in old maps and ancient plans, many are locked up in the deed boxes of family lawyers, while others are only retained as fading pictures in the minds of our older inhabitants.
These thoughts came to me upon coming across a few notes jotted down on 4th March 1889, when I saw the Harrogate well exposed by the pulling down of the above two cottages which had been erected over it's site. Some of your readers may doubtless be able to add to or correct some of the following gossip.
In the garden of the spa stood Harrogate House, where the father of Adam Banks was bom and lived, circa 1701. Here he is said to have written a book. James Rylance, solicitor, resided in one of these cottages in the first half of the last century. Adjoining the cottages stood Mr. John Browne's grandfather's spindle and fly works and behind them Cookson 's Dyehouse.
When the ground floor of one of these cottages was removed a circular brick chamber was revealed, 12ft in diameter, with walls 5ft in height. An arched brick roof covered the well and partly formed the floor of the chamber. Let into this floor on the Darlington Street side was a large stone with a hole 1 ft square cut in the centre. Under the arch and across the well was placed a massive plum tree beam, doubtless used at some time for the attachment of the winding gear. The well was 10ft deep, and contained 5ft of water. A rough wooden seating encircled the chamber.
Mr Ralph Darlington, formerly Town Clerk of Wigan, informed me that in 1745 his relative, the Rev. Clayton, visited the spa and "received much benefit from the application of the water to his sore and inflamed eyes ". The course consisted of bathing the eyes frequently and whilst sitting in the room and taking away the water for home use.
This historic spot is approximately marked by the back of 33 Darlington Street.
Mr Joseph Hilton, the relieving officer, who lived and died in the house almost adjoining these cottages, used to say there was a second more shallow well in the gardens of the bath (Harrogate) partly built over by his house. In the olden days rumour has it that the spa waters were eagerly sought after by the neighbouring publicans to mix with spirits, but whether to counteract the potency of the spirits or to disguise the flavour of the water, is not stated.
Mr Hilton maintained that at one time the Douglas was navigable up to the Douglas Bank Collieries, and that part of the masonry forming the landing place or quay was then standing (1889). Thirty years previously he had himself caught salmon trout below Fairhurst Mill at Parbold. Mr John Browne recalls many happy hours spent with his school mates in catching hundreds of fish with rod and line in the pellucid stream of the Douglas near Cookson's Dyeworks in Wigan (1853-1858).
Silver Well was situated close to Mr White's Cotton Waste Manufactory. The water was noted for it's even temperature, being as cool in the summer as in the winter. Close to the well Mr Eccles built a bath measuring 12ft by 12ft and 7ft deep. "It was much in request by the quality". The bath was covered in and lighted by two windows. A pipe led from the well to the Wigan Brewery and provided it's water supply. A few families had the privilege of tapping into this source en route.
Besides Harrogate another thoroughfare of the town recalls one of these old wells, the lane which led to it perpetuating the "Boy's Well", which for many years was the main unfailing water supply for Scholes. It was a yard deep and flagged at the bottom. The caretaker cleaned it out once a week, and charged a halfpenny a can.
A small spring is said to have existed in the vicinity of the Albion Brewery, Millgate?, another called Tea Well occupied a position near Hartley Street, Darlington Street East.
Baldwin's Tarpaulin Works covered a well approached from Wallgate by Will Gose Lane. A pump in the Pump Yard, Queen Street, owned by Mr Lyon who extracted one penny a day and "wait your turn " from each customer, served Queen Street and Chapel Lane.
Leaving Scholes and crossing the two foot bridges which spanned the conduit to Park's Forge and the weir of the Douglas between Scholes and Standishgate, and proceeding into Swinley Lane, one came across the locally named "Sugar Well". It's very scanty flow through an iron pipe gave ample time for kindly and other gossip.
The wall work of an old reservoir and the attendant's house are still to be seen in Coppull Lane, and in olden days two wells were there to supply the needs of the neighbourhood.
Below and adjoining Sutton Mill, at the foot of Coppull Lane on the Standishgate side of the Douglas in a building about 20ft high with a sloping roof and boarded up windows, stood Bottling Bath. The bath, 20 yards long, 12 yards wide and 6 feet deep, was surrounded by a parapet 12 feet in width. Mr Ambrose, the owner of the mill charged from 6d to 1/- per person for about ten weeks use of the bath.
In the summer months, about 6.00 am, the late Chief Constable Simm and his brothers, Colonel J.D.Murray, Mr John Browne, his brothers and other Wigan worthies, in their early teens assembled here to take their matutinal plunge. But so cold were it's waters that to swim the double length of the bath was a feat rarely accomplished. The original purpose of the bath is not known.
Mr William Ashton informs me that the residents in Wigan Lane were chiefly indebted for their water supply to the indulgence of the Reverend Benjamin Powell of Bellingham House and Mr Park of New Lodge. These two gentlemen allowed free access to their private pumps.
The shallow "Mesnes Well" faced Bull Hey Cottages, on the pathway bounding the Rectory Farm, off which branched Parson 's Walk. Opposite the Park Gates in Park Road remain to this day some of the relics of the well. It supplied the wants of this district and Hallgate and part of Standishgate. It is unfortunate that it's water is not available to dilute the turbid liquid of the duck pond in the park. The well was closed in 1870.
Poolstock was supplied from the comparatively recently closed well (Lyon Well), which was recessed in a high Boundary wall and reached by a few wide steps, being located at what is now the entrance to Walmsley Avenue. It was quite an imposing structure in it's later years. How did Lyon Well get it's name?. A small spring near the Poolstock Lane end of Pool Street and another fronting Trickett's Farm were also in request.
The memories of the Barley Brook Well are enshrined in the verse of John Critchley Prince, "The Woodland Well".
Until recent times our public wells and pumps , such as the Wallgate pump, were the popular centres for local news and gossip, besides being the chief source of potable water. Rain water was largely utilised for washing purposes everywhere in those days. The larger houses made collections on the premises of the rain, or the water of handy springs.
As a boy I remember the lordly pump in the scullery, a symbol of middle class consequence and exclusiveness. Near by in the yard, a hole was dug for an ash pit, and the prompting of mutual association often led to a commingling of their contents. Interior baths were then coming into vogue, and the dark grey depths of the lead lined wooden bath was one of the terrors of my childhood.
Opposite the bath, in the darkest corner of the staircase, the water closet was placed. It was dimly lighted by a small pane of ground glass and devoid of any ventilation. Such a position was ideally arranged to cause the greatest nuisance to the whole household.
Hefty citizens have been doubtless bred and reared under these conditions, but the modem housewife will hardly wish to return to the inconveniences of the good old days.
Enlarged Map
Additional Note:
The Life and Legacy of Dr. Robert Prosser White:
Dr. Robert Prosser White, a distinguished medical professional and a devoted community leader, epitomized the integration of medical expertise and local service in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His life’s work not only revolutionized dermatology and industrial medicine but also left a lasting imprint on his hometown of Wigan.
This essay explores his extensive contributions to medicine, his impact on his community, and the enduring legacy he left behind.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1855 to Dr. James White, a respected surgeon in Wigan, and Mary Hutchings Prosser, Robert Prosser White was immersed in the world of medicine from an early age.
Growing up in a family with a strong medical tradition, White’s path seemed almost predetermined. His formative years were spent under the guidance of his father, who had already established a prominent reputation as a surgeon and a justice of the peace in Wigan.
Robert’s early education took place at the Royal Grammar School in Clitheroe, after which he pursued higher studies at Edinburgh University and University College London. He graduated with a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree in 1880, a testament to his dedication and academic prowess.
Medical Career and Innovations
Dr. White’s medical career was marked by significant achievements and innovations. In 1885, he was elected honorary physician to Wigan Infirmary, a position he would hold with distinction for many years. His tenure at the infirmary was characterised by a series of pioneering contributions. Notably, White established the hospital’s skin department, a crucial development in the treatment of dermatological conditions.
His commitment to advancing medical technology was evident in his donation of the first X-ray and Finsen light apparatus to the hospital, tools that would significantly enhance diagnostic and treatment capabilities.
White’s expertise in industrial diseases, particularly those affecting the skin, garnered him an international reputation. His role as a former president of the London Dermatological Society and the Factory Surgeons Association underscored his leadership in the field.
Furthermore, his involvement with the Permanent International Committee for the Study of Industrial Diseases under the League of Nations highlighted his global influence.
Community Service and Cultural Contributions
Dr. White’s dedication to his community went beyond his professional achievements. He was deeply involved in various local initiatives that aimed to enrich the lives of Wigan residents.
His involvement with the Church Lad’s Brigade Medical Staff Corps demonstrated his commitment to youth development, where he served as medical officer and Surgeon Colonel.
White’s efforts in ensuring the proper training of young people were a testament to his belief in nurturing the next generation.
White’s influence also extended to the cultural sphere. He funded the Wigan Parish Church Musical Fund, ensuring the continuation of annual organ recitals, and established the Medical Book Trust Fund at Wigan Public Library to support the acquisition of important medical texts.
His artistic inclinations were evident in his commissioning of paintings and drawings of Wigan’s historical buildings, which he later donated to the Wigan Free Public Library. These works not only preserved the town’s heritage but also provided a lasting visual record of its architectural history.
Personal Life and Legacy
In 1907, Dr. White married Clarice Emma Le Rougetel, a woman from Guernsey. Their union produced two sons, Robert Le Rougetel White and James Helier White. Robert Le Rougetel White pursued a career in economics and served as a Royal Naval Volunteer during World War II, while James Helier White, a Captain in the South Lancashire Regiment, tragically lost his life during the Normandy invasion on D-Day.
Dr. Robert Prosser White’s death on January 4, 1934, marked the end of a distinguished career and a life dedicated to both his profession and his community.
He was buried alongside his father at Lower Ince Cemetery. His obituary in the British Medical Journal reflected on his fine character, highlighting his cheerful demeanor and unwavering commitment to the greater good.
Conclusion
Dr. Robert Prosser White’s legacy is a compelling narrative of medical excellence intertwined with profound community service. His innovative contributions to dermatology and industrial medicine, coupled with his dedication to cultural and educational initiatives, left an indelible mark on Wigan and the broader medical community.
His life serves as a reminder of the profound impact that one individual can have on both their profession and their community, illustrating the enduring value of a life lived with purpose and dedication.
Michael Nelson 2021