Southampton reaped the benefits of being a spa town
One of the strengths of the people of Southampton is their ability to reinvent their town in times of great change. An example of this is the growth of Southampton as a Spa Town in the mid 18th century. The changing fortunes of trade and politics had left Southampton impoverished by the early 1700s but that was to change with a combination of fashion and good luck. In the early 18th century it had become fashionable to bathe in sea water and to drink mineral rich water for its health and curative benefits. In 1740 a chalybeate spring, rich in iron and other minerals, was discovered ...
Source: dailyecho.co.uk