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I was so surprised that no mention was made below of Droitwich as a hydrotherapy spa as it was first established in 1825 and was mentioned by the Spas Association of Medical doctors as being exceptional (as spas go). Bea On 10/30/01 11:38 AM Mike Langham writes: >My new book 'Buxton - A People's History' (by Mike Langham) recounts the >growth of Buxton as a unique inland medical resort developed as an estate >town by the Dukes of Devonshire. As far as I can ascertain it is the only >inland health resort to be developed in such a manner. The early shaping of >the town by the Devonshire Estate gave way gradually to an emerging >democracy born from the Local Government Act of 1858. The book has a >chapter on the influence of water medicine and the specialist doctors in >this field who undoubtedly contributed greatly to the growing reputation of >the town. The chapter contrasts the health resorts such as Bath, Buxton and >Harrogate, which had a natural mineral water and a charity hospital and >where the doctors were firmly part of the medical establishment, with >centres such as Matlock, Ilkley and Malvern who embraced the new (or more >correctly newly revised) regime of hydropathy from the 1830s/40s. The >former centres were much slower in accepting the hydropathic movement. >Ultimately the all-embracing science of Balneology and Climatology combined >traditional, established, and new treatments leading to the present day >hydrotherapeutic treatments. Other chapters cover the growth from the start >of the ninetenth century (4) and the movers and shapers in this such as the >agents to the Devonshire Estate, Water medical doctors as mentioned, >religion and religious movements and the architects' influence on the built >environment. Chapter nine brings the story into the 20th C. Modesty forbids >me to tell you that the book is the thesis for my PhD, awarded earlier this >year by Sheffield University. Its language is, however, not over academic >and there are very full notes for each chapter gathered at the end of the >book. > >The book is published in hardback with about 200 illutrations at £20. + a >nominal £1.50 p&p direct from the publisher Carnegie Publishing Ltd, >Carnegie House, Chatsworth Road, LANCASTER, Lancs. LA1 4SL Or, as they say, >from any good bookshops. (Did anyone ever know a bad bookshop?) >Hope you might find this of interest >Mike Langham Beatrice Hopkinson 73071,327@compuserve