Hartwell Spring, Lower Hartwell (Near Aylesbury), Buckinghamshire, England

## Overview Hartwell Spring is a historic public drinking spring located in Lower Hartwell, near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, England. The spring is closely associated with the striking Egyptian Well (also known as the Hartwell Egyptian Spring Head), an ornamental wellhead built in the Egyptian Revival style that has long been a local landmark and point of curiosity. Water flows from two pipes — one situated next to the Egyptian Well structure and another directly opposite it. The Egyptian Well is believed to date from the early 19th century and is connected to the Hartwell House estate, a grand Jacobean and Georgian country house with deep historical roots. Hartwell House famously served as the residence of the exiled French King Louis XVIII from 1809 to 1814 during the Napoleonic Wars. The Egyptian-style wellhead likely reflects the fashion for Egyptomania that swept through British architecture and design following Napoleon's Egyptian campaign in the late 1790s. The spring itself, however, almost certainly predates the ornamental structure and has historically been used as a local water source for the surrounding community. For more historical and archaeological context, the Megalithic Portal has a dedicated entry on the site: [megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=12202](http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=12202). ## Directions 1. From Aylesbury, take the **A418 Oxford Road** heading west out of town. 2. Watch for the sign for **Lower Hartwell** on your right-hand side. 3. Turn **right** off the A418 into the country lane signposted for Lower Hartwell. 4. Follow this lane as it passes **Hartwell House Hotel** on your right. 5. Continue slightly uphill — the **Egyptian Well** will come into view on your **left** side of the lane. 6. The spring can be accessed beside the Egyptian Well and also from a second pipe on the opposite side of the lane. **GPS coordinates:** 51.804634, -0.847749 ## What to Expect Hartwell Spring is accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The setting is a quiet country lane in the Buckinghamshire countryside, just a short distance from the grounds of the historic Hartwell House Hotel (now a National Trust property operated as a hotel and spa). The main visual highlight is the Egyptian Well — an unusual and photogenic piece of architectural heritage that makes this spring stand out from typical English village water sources. Water emerges from two separate pipes: one adjacent to the Egyptian Well structure and one on the opposite side of the lane. Visitors have historically used this as a drinking water source, though as with any natural spring, water quality can vary and has not been independently verified. The lane is rural and narrow, so parking may be limited — pulling off carefully to the side is advisable. The spring is at the roadside and does not require any significant walking or hiking to reach. The area is pleasant for a short stroll, and the nearby Hartwell House grounds offer additional interest for history and architecture enthusiasts.