Hotwells

The Hotwells district of Bristol, at the end of the dramatic Avon Gorge, Hotwells forms the western gateway to the City but has a distinct and rich history of its own. It grew rapidly in the second half of the 18th century with the development of a spa based on the supposedly curative waters of the 'Hotwell'. For a time it was an important centre, along with nearby Bath, on the 'spa circuit' for well-heeled gentry to recover from the excesses of their lifestyle and sprouted elegant terraces of rooming houses, gardens, an Assembly Room and even a theatre.

Sadly, after a brief fashionable popularity, Hotwells developed into not so much a health resort but more of a last resort for people with tuberculosis and other ailments, incurable at the time. These visitors were preyed on by the many doctors and charlatans offering dubious remedies . . . . 
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