Droitwich: Worcestershire Spa Town Built on Salt Springs Ten Times Saltier Than the Sea
Droitwich Spa sits in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire, about six miles north of Worcester and seven miles southwest of Bromsgrove. The population is around 25,000. The town's identity is inseparable from its salt. Natural brine springs beneath Droitwich produce water that is roughly ten times saltier than seawater, comparable to the Dead Sea. Salt has been extracted here since prehistoric times; the Romans knew the place as Salinae. The brine baths, which opened in the Victorian era, attracted visitors seeking the therapeutic effects of floating in concentrated salt water. The Brine Baths Park on St Andrew's Road marks the site of the original baths, though the public baths closed in 2008. John Corbett, the "Salt King," made his fortune from the Droitwich salt trade in the 19th century and built the Chateau Impney, a Loire-style chateau on the A38, for his French wife.
The town centre along the High Street, Victoria Square, and St Andrew's Street has a compact, attractive character. The Droitwich Canal, restored and reopened in 2011 after decades of dereliction, connects to the River Severn and the wider canal network. Droitwich Spa station is on the line between Worcester and Birmingham, with trains to Birmingham New Street in about 30 minutes. The M5 is accessible at junction 5, about two miles to the east. Worcester is a 15-minute drive south.
Show more
Droitwich Spa sits in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire, about six miles north of Worcester and seven miles southwest of Bromsgrove. The population is around 25,000. The town's identity is inseparable from its salt. Natural brine springs beneath Droitwich produce water that is roughly ten times saltier than seawater, comparable to the Dead Sea. Salt has been extracted here since prehistoric times; the Romans knew the place as Salinae. The brine baths, which opened in the Victorian era, attracted visitors seeking the therapeutic effects of floating in concentrated salt water. The Brine Baths Park on St Andrew's Road marks the site of the original baths, though the public baths closed in 2008. John Corbett, the "Salt King," made his fortune from the Droitwich salt trade in the 19th century and built the Chateau Impney, a Loire-style chateau on the A38, for his French wife.
The town centre along the High Street, Victoria Square, and St Andrew's Street has a compact, attractive character. The Droitwich Canal, restored and reopened in 2011 after decades of dereliction, connects to the River Severn and the wider canal network. Droitwich Spa station is on the line between Worcester and Birmingham, with trains to Birmingham New Street in about 30 minutes. The M5 is accessible at junction 5, about two miles to the east. Worcester is a 15-minute drive south.
Country selected
Region selected
City selected
