Malvern Wells Parish

The Parish

St Peters Church, Malvern Wells from the south

Malvern Wells first came to prominence in the mid-18th Century with the scientific publication of an analysis of the local spring water by Dr John Wall. This physician, who amongst other things founded Worcester Royal Infirmary developed Holy Well and several others as the first water cure centre, some two miles south of Great Malvern. He gave rise to the famous saying:

"Malvern water, says Dr John Wall,
Is famed for containing nothing just nothing at all."

To begin with most visitors were accomodated in the Well House, built in 1741, but as a number of keen hoteliers and businessmen saw the possibilities of Great Malvern, future growth moved northwards. This shift away from Malvern Wells took place particularly after the building of a library and baths in Great Malvern.

Throughout the remaining years of the 19th Century Malvern Wells grew little except for infilling, and ribbon development along the Wells Road.

The Memorial

Invitation to the unveiling of the memorial