Woodhall Spa

Coordinates: 53°09′05″N 0°13′06″W / 53.1515°N 0.2183°W / 53.1515; -0.2183

Woodhall Spa is a civil parish and village in Lincolnshire, England, on the southern edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds 6 miles (10 km) south-west of Horncastle and 15 miles (24 km) east-south-east of Lincoln. It is noted for its mineral springs, cinema, and its Second World War association with the RAF 617 Squadron. The cinema has the last remaining rear screen projector in the country.

History

The development of Woodhall Spa

Woodhall Spa came about by accident in 1811 after John Parkinson, of Old Bolingbroke made several attempts to find coal. After spending several thousand pounds, and sinking a shaft over 1,000 feet deep, the enterprise was abandoned on account of the now rising spring. The spring flows daily through soft spongy rock, at a depth of 520 feet.

About 1834, the then Lord of the Manor, Thomas Hotchkin, ascertained by analysis that the water was in fact valuable, being an iodine and bromine containing mineral spring. He spent nearly £30,000 sinking the well and erecting the Spa Baths and the Victoria Hotel.