Regency Hot Spots: Cheltenham

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Yet it was to the officious zeal or rather the inter ested attention of the late Simeon Moreau the first master of the ceremonies and the person here alluded to that Cheltenham has since progressively risen to its present high pitch of celebrity At the beginning of his reign he was far from being popular because the company imagined he intruded himself without a re gular title but his subjects gradually became recon ciled to his government and by his skill in finance he left the revenues of his summer reign in a very flourishing state to his worthy successor James King Esq who is also MC at the Lower rooms Bath In short Cheltenham with all the additions which successful speculations are yearly making to it is now often incapable of receiving all the company that re sort to it and accordingly lodgings have been fitted up at Charlton Kings Sandford Arle Alston and Presbury to be replenished by the frequent overflows at the Spa A Guide to All the Watering and Sea Bathing Places in England and Wales , with a Description of the Lakes; a Sketch of a Tour in Wales, and Itineraries (1803)

On the edge of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham is a spa town that owed its rise in popularity on a visit by George III in 1788.  By the Regency era, hot baths, chalybeate spring, horse racing, assembly rooms, theatre, and other amenities welcomed visitors and would see popularity into the Victorian era with new access by rail.

The spa was open every morning for water drinkers, and the pump room and well walks from eight to ten were filled with music from a band supported by subscriptions.  Two circulating libraries under the name Harward were available to visitors, selling not ony books but also music and musical instruments.  Two other libraries existed, one under the name Mrs. Jones’s Circulating Library at No. 59 facing the Colonnade.

cannot fail to be agreeable The principal INNS and HOTELS are the PLOUGH and the GEORGE At the former is a well frequented COFFEE ROOM Two large commodious BOARD ING HOUSES one kept by Russel and the other by Smith furnish the best accommodations to single gen tlemen or such persons as prefer living constantly amidst company In the back street are two elegant BILLIARD ROOMS where gentlemen frequently amuse them selves in a rainy day while the BOWLING GREEN in fine weather presents an attraction which few who delight in active and healthy sports can resist On the whole there is a sociability and easiness of intercourse at Cheltenham which are not often wit nessed in other places The hospitable genius of Gloucestershire sheds his benign influence on this cen tral point of his dominions and even strangers catch a portion of his spirit WALKS AND RIDES ROUND CHELTENHAM WITHIN these few years the utmost attention has been paid to the improvement of the roads round Cheltenham Nature has not been very favorable but art and expence have been liberally applied to produce all the agreeable promenades and rides that the situa tion would admit of We shall particularize a few of such as are most fashionable PRESBURY THIS delightful village lies about two miles north of Cheltenham and is so secluded by orchards and trees as to form a sylvan scene round almost every house Here are some very neat dwellings where lodgings may be procured and the hotel is infinitely superior to
what might be expected in such a sequestered spot Its accompaniments are in the prettiest stile The grotto is decorated with shells and fossils of various kinds very tastefully arranged the windows are Gothic and filled with painted glass the floor is tessellated and convex mirrors adorn the walls Its exterior is pleasingly shaded with gadding shrubs which give the whole a solemn and impressive effect Opposite to the back door of the house on a raised terrace stands a Chinese temple at the upper end of the garden This is used as a tea room and round it is a balcony covered by an awning Here the com pany from Cheltenham frequently retire to drink tea and a more pleasant retirement it is almost impossible to find At a little distance from this temple is a tower with two good octagon rooms and from the battlements is a rich view of the whole village The gardens are laid out with much taste by the late Mr Darke and are planted with a profusion of flowers and shrubs This beautiful place is now in the occupation of Mr Rooke DODSWELL THE village of Dodswell about four miles from Cheltenham on the London road though containing only a few houses is one of the most elegant and pleasantly situated in the kingdom It is built upon the sunny side of a hill sheltered by lofty and ancient trees and commands not only Cheltenham but the greatest part of the vale of Gloucester with some of the most conspicuous buildings in that city Malvern hills which lie at a considerable distance are seen to great advantage from this spot and when illumined by a setting sun form a picture grand charming and impressive I SEVEN WELLS HEAD THE Source of the Thames the most illustrious of British streams will infallibly attract the notice of every
person of taste who visits this neighbourhood The seven wells or springs from which this noble river rises are situated in the parish of Cubberly about three miles and a half from Cheltenham and four and a half from Frog Mill These springs form the Churn which is unquestionably the highest source of the Thames From the different hills in this and the adjacent parishes the landscapes are extensive and richly variegated The junction of the Severn and Iris at Salperton about sixteen miles from Cheltenham is also worth visiting It was completed in 1789 and gave rise to the subsequent allegorical letter A Guide to All the Watering and Sea Bathing Places in England and Wales , with a Description of the Lakes; a Sketch of a Tour in Wales, and Itineraries (1803)

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