Chalybeate Spring

## Overview The Chalybeate Spring in Royal Tunbridge Wells, England, is one of the country's most historically significant mineral springs. "Chalybeate" refers to water naturally rich in iron salts, and this particular spring has been celebrated for its distinctive rust-tinged, iron-bearing waters since the early 17th century. The spring was discovered in 1606 by Dudley, Lord North, a young nobleman who noticed the iron-red staining of the ground and tasted the water, believing it to have restorative properties. Word of the spring's reputed health benefits spread quickly, and by the mid-1600s, Tunbridge Wells had become one of England's most fashionable spa destinations. Aristocrats, royalty, and society figures — including Queen Henrietta Maria (wife of Charles I), who visited in 1630 — flocked to "the Wells" to take the waters. The town itself owes its very existence and its royal prefix to this spring. The spring rises at the end of The Pantiles, a beautiful colonnaded Georgian walkway that was originally laid out to accommodate the fashionable visitors who came to promenade and drink the mineral water. A "dipper" — a person employed to serve the spring water to visitors — was a tradition that persisted for centuries. Today, a costumed dipper can sometimes still be seen serving the water during the summer months, keeping this centuries-old tradition alive. The water has a notably sharp, metallic taste due to its iron content, which historically led people to attribute various health benefits to it. The spring has been used as a drinking water source for over 400 years, though as with any natural water source, visitors should exercise their own judgment. ## Directions 1. The Chalybeate Spring is located at the southern end of **The Pantiles**, a historic pedestrian promenade in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. 2. From the town centre, head south along **High Street**, which becomes **Chapel Place** and then leads down to The Pantiles. 3. Walk along The Pantiles — the spring is situated at the far (southern) end of the colonnade, set into a small alcove. 4. **GPS coordinates:** 51.126506, 0.258597. 5. The Pantiles is a pedestrianised area, so the nearest parking can be found at the **Union House Car Park** or other town centre car parks, all within a short walk. ## What to Expect The Chalybeate Spring is set within the elegant surroundings of The Pantiles, one of the finest Georgian promenades in England. The spring itself emerges from a small, stone-lined basin beneath a canopy, and the water has a distinctive orange-brown tint from its iron mineral content. Visitors can expect a gentle, continuous flow of water. The taste is famously metallic and sharp — an acquired taste, but one that millions have sampled over the centuries. During the summer season, a costumed "dipper" may be present to serve the water in the traditional manner, offering a charming connection to the spring's 17th- and 18th-century heyday. The Pantiles area is fully accessible, paved, and lined with independent shops, cafés, and restaurants, making it easy to combine a visit to the spring with a leisurely stroll. The spring is free to visit and open year-round, though the dipper service is seasonal. The surrounding architecture and atmosphere make this one of the most picturesque spring sites in England.