St James Spring
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In 1773 the Chalybeate spring was discovered by quarrymen on the eastern side of what is now St James Gardens. Dr Houlston published an essay that year referring to the spring as the ‘Liverpool spa’ he wrote that the water ‘oozes through the veins of that soft yellow stone.’ Dr Houlston believed the best quality of the spring water was its ability to strengthen the whole habit. He wrote how it could most help those who suffered weaknesses after acute diseases. Unfortunately though the spring was discovered too late to help the town’s population fight off the consumption outbreak of 1772, which had been found by Dr John Bostock to be more fatal than many realised.
