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St. Peter's Church, Cheltenham-
Photo:
Terry Jacombs
CCL |
Cheltenham was founded as
a spa town in 1716, when a spring was
discovered and believed to have healing
properties.
Tradition has it that curious locals tried the
waters after noticing pigeons pecking at the
salty deposits and found them to be a cure for
many 18th century ailments.
The town received Royal patronage in 1788 when
King George III came to drink the waters.
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This led to the rapid
development of Cheltenham as a fashionable spa
between 1790 and 1840. The town was patronised by
a constant stream of noble and royal visitors
including Duke of Wellington and Princess (later
Queen) Victoria. Distinguished literary figures
taking the waters have included Lord Byron, Jane
Austen and Charles Dickens.
The heritage of these bygone times when Cheltenham
was at its most fashionable can be seen in the
Regency architecture that adorns the town, with
the pastel shades and intricate ironwork features
of distinctive townhouse façades. Cheltenham is
the most complete Regency town in Britain and has
over 2,000 listed buildings of historic interest.
The oldest surviving spa
building in Cheltenham is Vittoria House on
Vittoria Walk (1804). Two of the best preserved
spa buildings are The Rotunda at Montpelier (now
Lloyds Bank) and the magnificent Pittville Pump
Room in Pittville Park. Today's curious visitors
can still take the waters at Pittville.
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Cheltenham is one of the
few English towns in which traditional and
contemporary architecture complement each
other.
From the neo-gothic styled Victorian school
buildings such as Cheltenham College (1843
onwards) and Cheltenham Ladies' College (1873
onwards), through to modern commercial
buildings like the Eagle Star UK headquarters
in Bishops Cleeve.
Cheltenham also has many fine churches
including the medieval St Mary's where John
Wesley is said to have preached from the old
cross in the churchyard. |
Pittville Pump Room, Pittville Park -
Photo:
Nigel Homer
CCL |
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