Yes Bea, Droitwich appears in the book but here I was contrasting what I
believe to be the three best known conventional medical centres with the
three best known and early hydropathic centres. But this is an area for
further research and more investigation of Droitwich might prove revealing.
I have it on my list of things to do this research.
Mike Langham
----------
>From: Bea Hopkinson <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Buxton: dukes of devonshire
>Date: Wed, Oct 31, 2001, 8:32 pm
>
>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
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