Since the early 17th century the waters of Harrogate had been taken by locals and visitors to the area. The chalybeate springs of High Harrogate were originally the more popular, but by the middle of the 18th century doctors had discovered a satisfactory method of using the sulphur wells of Low Harrogate for internal treatments and extended their use in baths. As well as the newspaper and leaflet advertisements, the town also supported the production and sale of picture postcards for visitors to send to friends and family, or keep as souvenirs. Here follows a selection of the cards and images which show the lighter side of Harrogate’s cure culture, which sadly is no more, though you can still experience the waters at the town’s Pump Museum - if you dare

Gavin Holman

English

Humanities Commons

Taking the Waters The lighter side of the Harrogate Cure through the humorous postcards of the 1900s  Gavin Holman February 2018   Introduction  Since the early 17th century the waters of Harrogate had been taken by locals and visitors to the area. The chalybeate springs of High Harrogate were originally the more popular, but by the middle of the 18th century doctors had discovered a satisfactory method of using the sulphur wells of Low Harrogate for internal treatments and extended their use in baths. A separate chalybeate spring was found, where the Royal Hall now stands, which effectively made it independent of High Harrogate. The Pump Room was opened, a Promenade Room was built and the Valley Gardens were laid out. In total 87 springs arose within the town’s boundaries.       The first honorary secretary of the Harrogate Bath Hospital, Pickersgill Palliser, was a man of many talents who in 1834 started to produce a list of “The Company at Harrogate” - a list of visitors to the town and where they were staying. As time went on he added information about events, church services and advertisements, and by 1836 he realised that a newspaper had evolved from the “List of Visitors” and he adopted the name The Harrogate Advertiser. Entertainments for the visitors were soon brought into the town, and musical concerts in the various grounds and bandstands became a daily feature, lasting through until WW2.    Visitors to the town who arrived for curative purposes were encouraged to take part in various activities, in addition to any prescribed treatments, which ranged from gentle walks in the gardens, to more exhausting tramps through the woods and nearby “moors”, on return they could relax to entertainments provided by the town or the various spa organisations, consisting of concerts from the local orchestra and bands, and others e.g. pierrots and singing groups.     The Daily Routine  The basic recommended length for the "cure" was for a period of not less than three weeks for "permanent benefit to be gained" and to be followed, in some instances, by a further visit to the seaside. Visitors were also encouraged to take the waters and bathing treatments under prescription.  7.00-8.00am Rise and visit Pump Room for first tumbler of water 7.00-8.15am Walk about, listening to the band 8.15am Take second tumbler of water 8.15-9.00am Listen to the band and if prescribed take third glass of water 9.00am Breakfast  For some people it is advisable that they drive; either by omnibus, carriage, or bath chair but the walk home can be advantageous if it can be accomplished without undue fatigue. Care should be taken to avoid exertion. 10.00-11.00am Morning paper or letter writing 11.00am Shopping/Walk/Listen to band/or Bath 11.30am Second visit to Pump Room 1.00pm Rest for half an hour 1.30pm Lunch to be followed by one hour of rest Afternoon Driving, Walking, Cycling, Golfing or third visit to Pump Room. Afternoon tea in Gardens listening to the band 7.00pm Dinner  Concert room 10.00pm Bed  For some patients, massage is better than exercise      Promotion of the town and its “cure”  Harrogate had to compete with similar spa towns in the UK and Europe, and used various advertising methods to draw patients and more casual visitors to it. One advantage it had was that Knaresborough was nearby, with a range of additional attractions for visitors to the area.  As well as the newspaper and leaflet advertisements, the town also supported the production and sale of picture postcards for visitors to send to friends and family, or keep as souvenirs. These only became common in the late 1890s and thereafter, the “golden age” being from 1895 to 1910.   Aside from the photographic or “landscape” style of postcard, which showed views of the town and countryside, or scenes of buildings and streets, there were a large number of more humorous cards which illustrated the “delights”, or otherwise, of the Harrogate experience. Many of these featured aspects of “taking the waters” – mainly because of the unpleasant taste and smell of the sulphurous springs – which in some cases were so bad they had to be doing you some good!  One card even had the following poem on it, extolling the benefits of the well:   Harrogate – the Old Sulphur Well  Ye gracious gods defend us,  And never again send us, Though dear friends tickets lend us,  For the Old Sulphur Well  Youth and beauty here appear  When the morning sun shines clear, Darby and his Joan dear  Grace the Old Sulphur Well  Kind spirits – all preserve us  From maidens who observe us While “hot and strong” they serve us  From the Old Sulphur Well  “Take the bitter with the sweet”.  “Get it down”. “Enjoy the treat” Greet each other as we meet  At the Old Sulphur Well  Stroll around while music charms  All our direst first alarms, Read the news of towns and farms  Far from Old Sulphur Well  But, ye gods, the half hour’s bye,  Must we have another “try”? Ten ounces more!! – then – Goodbye  To you Old Sulphur Well   Here following are a selection of the cards and images which show the lighter side of Harrogate’s cure culture, which sadly is no more, though you can still experience the waters at the town’s Pump Museum – if you dare!      Welcome to the town                     Various images of a colourful nature A selection of cards of a general nature extolling the virtues or otherwise of Harrogate                       Various images of a monochrome nature A few hand-drawn cards                      Drinking the waters at Harrogate  A series of six images of two men deciding whether to sample the Pump Room’s offering             Harrogate Waters series  A series of six images of a toddler finding out just what the water tastes like    Will you sulphur with me?  Two tickets for sulphur please  Oh phew, what a smell!  Well, good health!  I don’t see what there is to laugh about  No second glass for me!       Lance Thackeray – split images Thackeray (1869-1916) featured aspects of life at the Harrogate Spa. Each card has a small panel with an associated image, usually following on in some respect to the main picture.  Drink it Daddy,  I like to see your face  Three of Scotch  It’s high time to start taking the waters  For better or for worse  A ticket for a friend  My first glass    Some of the visitors  The first glass  A case for the S.P.C.A.  By the Doctor’s orders  I hope no one’s looking  What devilish stuff is this?  The early bird  A first attempt    Take it away  Three of Irish  Comparing notes  Resigned  All sorts and conditions  7.45 a.m.  A good suggestion how to take the waters  An early constitutional    Turtle Dovedale  A back view  Taking the waters  Far from the Sulphur Well        Cats – by Violet Roberts & others   Violet Roberts was an Edwardian postcard artist who lived in Hull, and later Beverley. Her charming illustrations presented an array of quirky creatures that adopted personalities from all walks of life. Cats seemed to feature on her Harrogate illustrations, a subject which was also used by others, also shown here, including Clarice Firth. Another lover of feline images was Louis Wain (see the next section)   I came to Harrogate like this  All there is for dinner  I do enjoy my Sulphur Baths  Joys of Harrogate – drinking sulphur water  Oh the taste!    I’m afraid it isn’t nice  Br-r-r beastliness isn’t the word for it!  There’s nothing like Harrogate waters  Back from the Sulphur Well  Back from the Sulphur Well  We are busy… at Harrogate  Sulphur water will never tempt me again… never!      What have I done to deserve this?  No nearer my dear, I can smell it from here  It is dangerous to tease a Sulphur patient  Great Scott! What a smell!     Dear me! Sulphur water again  Off to the Sulphur Well    Great Scott! What a smell!  Cured!  It wasn’t Sulphur Water!  Sulphur again!      Cats – by Louis Wain Louis Wain was an artist best known for his drawings, which consistently featured anthropomorphised large-eyed cats and kittens. A number of his works were used to illustrate aspects of the “taking of the waters” at Harrogate and other spas.   Be brave dear, it’s all for your own good  You’ll like it better as you go on, dear!  Down it!  That awful clock again!  Fit for anything!  Here’s health!    I don’t think!  They’ll take the smell away, Sir!  Getting ready for the Sulphurers  How long am I expected to  stand this?  I say! Stop it!!  Perhaps if I hold my nose it will go down easier!  Keep it down that’s the thing  I’m afraid it won’t keep down!  Come and try!    Oh that this too, too solid flesh would melt    A Sermon on Sulphur  Between drinks  A line of Sulphurers  No more sulphur today!    I say, I didn’t ask for an Irish Stew!  I think I’ve had enough!          

Taking the Waters - The lighter side of the Harrogate Cure, through the humorous postcards of the 1900s

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Taking the Waters - The lighter side of the Harrogate Cure, through the humorous postcards of the 1900s

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