TQ6039 : Chalybeate Spring, Dunorlan Park
taken 14 years ago, near to Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England
Dunorlan Park was once the private grounds of a large and very grand mansion owned by the Yorkshire born millionaire, Henry Reed.
The garden was laid out in the 1850s and 1860s by the renowned Victorian gardener Robert Marnock. Although the mansion no longer exists, the garden is one of the best preserved examples of Marnock's work. James Pulham also contributed to the park and many of the features are made from Pulhamite.
Dunorlan Park is now an historically important (Grade II listed Link ) and much loved public park. The Heritage Lottery Fund award of £2.1 million has enabled the restoration of Dunorlan's historic features and improved access into and around the park.
The park contains a number of amenities including a cafe, boating lake, putting green, car parks, toilets, as well as rolling Wealden countryside. For a map see Link
Chalybeate waters, also known as ferruginous waters, are mineral spring waters containing salts of iron.
Early in the 17th century, chalybeate water was said to have health-giving properties and many people have promoted its qualities. Dudley North, 3rd Baron North discovered the chalybeate spring at Tunbridge Wells in 1606. Dudley North’s physician claimed that the waters contained ‘vitriol’ and the waters of Tunbridge Wells could cure:
"the colic, the melancholy, and the vapours; it made the lean fat, the fat lean; it killed flat worms in the belly, loosened the clammy humours of the body, and dried the over-moist brain."
(from Wikipedia)