Royal Pump Rooms

The Pump Room Baths in Leamington Spa opened in 1814, in an elegant Regency colonnaded building adjacent to the River Leam.  The pump rooms and assembly room were built over one of seven springs in the immediate area - one of them originally recorded in the 15th century.

There was the chance to both bathe in and drink the waters, the latter encouraged by the 'Rules for drinking the waters' published in 1814 by James Bissett:

'At early dawn prepare to rise,

And if your health you really prize,

To drink the waters quick repair,

Then take a walk to breathe fresh air.

Hie thro fields - or promenade

Round pump rooms grand, or colonnade.

A second glass now take - what then?

Why take a pleasant walk again,

The Waters, exercise and air,

Will brace your nerves, your health repair.

Then to your breakfast haste away,

With what keen appetite you may'.

This drinking fountain is no longer in use but it is still possible to drink the waters from a drinking fountain outside the pump rooms.

Later additions to the pump rooms included this Turkish bath or Hammam - a place for socializing whilst gently steaming out 'impurities'.

As late as the 1990's, hydrotherapy treatments were on offer - and as the below tariff shows, at quite modest prices in the 1980's..

One particular treatment, the Zotafoam bath, was intended to treat obesity..

Hard to tell whether this lady needed the treatment or not!!

The treatment apparatus now forms part of the museum and the swimming pools house the Art Gallery - so no spa experiences are available in Leamington any more.