button to main menu   Ford's Description of the Lakes, 1839/1843

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Page 117:-
[elegantly-]finished place, though now in a state of great delapidation.
These waters may be employed either externally or internally in a diversity of diseases, with great success. There are hot and cold baths fitted up in the immediate contiguity of the spring, and also at the hotel. In drinking the water no other precaution or preparation seems necessary than that of commencing with moderation. Time and experience have proved its virtues; and during the last century up to the present time, it has been used both externally and internally with amazing success.
The walk from the hotel down to the spa is short, dry in all weathers, and rather too steep, and will be found inconveniently so on the return by the invalid, although seats are placed at suitable distances, to render the fatigue as light as possible. At the bottom of the hill the path is continued along the water's brink, on a paved terrace to the spa. On the right, adjoining the river, are some plain buildings for the baths, and immediately across the water, a number of large stepping-stones enable you to visit the opposite banks, which are finely wooded, and offer several interesting views from various open points.
Gilsland is a very favourable station for persons engaged either in picturesque or antiquarian pursuits. The Roman Wall may be examined in its course, from the Crags in Northumberland to its entrance at Birdoswald in Cumberland. Thirlwall Castle, on the Tippal, is within a short walk:
gazetteer links
button -- "Gilsland Spa" -- Gilsland Spa
button -- "Wardrew House (?)" -- Wardrew
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