Eden Valley Messenger

HEALING POWERS OF SHAP

A FEASIBILITY study into the health benefit of spring water in Shap, commissioned by the Earl of Lonsdale has been published – revealing it’s possible use in the treatment of “peculiar affections of the heart and painful mental symptoms which could lead to the commission of suicide”.

And the chemical properties and medical virtues of the Shap Spaw were produced by Ralph Alderson of West House, Dent in 1828.

The book was discovered by a local book seller, who specialises in rare and fine books on country sports and natural history, David Grayling. It was among a box of books brought to his shop in Shap High Street by the late Lord Lonsdale.

David said: “Lord Lonsdale occasionally found old books and he would contact his local book seller - me. It was while I was going through a box of books that I bought from him some years ago, I discovered this scarce little volume, which had been published for subscribers only. It is a chemical analysis of what the author calls ‘Shap Spaw’. The research had been commissioned by the Earl of Lonsdale.”

In the forward to the book, author Ralph Alderson said: “I have, to the best of my ability, brought before the Public the chemical properties and medical virtues of the Shap Spaw; nor will I disguise the pleasure I have felt at the result of my investigation.

“It now rests with your Lordship, to determine whether a Spring so valuable and important (important in the highest degree to the Inhabitants of Westmorland) shall longer remain comparatively inaccessible and useless; or by the erection of requisite and appropriate convenience, it shall be made a great public blessing.”

Subscribers to the book included a Mr Heelis of Kendal, Professor Sedwick of Cambridge, Dr Keenleyside of Stockton-on-Tees, J Fife, Esq, surgeon of Newcastle and local dignitaries and members of the clergy.

And just five years after the book was published, the then Earl of Lonsdale built the first inn on the site, where Shap Wells Hotel now stands.

David added: “This is the first book I have seen on Shap Spaw. Following its publication a road was built and what would have been an inn constructed next to Shap Spaw. Though in the 1800s, it would have still been a very difficult place to reach in winter for anyone coming to take the waters.”

Starting as a collector of rare and fine books in the 1960s, David has been in the business for more than 30 years.

He explained: “After having lost my job as an agricultural adviser for a national company, I was forced to turn one of my hobbies – book collecting - into a business.

“My first purchase of two old hunting books, about 45 years ago in a small market town in northern England, triggered my interest in scarce works on country sports and natural history which continues to this day.

“This little book, A Chemical Analysis and Medical Treatise on the Shap Spaw would be of great interest to a chemistry historian, as well as local history enthusiasts.”

While the waters of Harrogate, and Bath created a Victorian tourism boom for their cities, the Shap Spaw is still a commercially untapped resource.

CAPTION

DAVID Grayling with the book A Chemical Analysis and medical Treatise on the Shap Spaw.