Information sheet

1626

Mrs Farrer claimed that the water had medicinal properties.

1698

First cisterns for water built by the Corporation.

1700

First Spaw House built by Dickie Dickinson, the first Governor.

1735

The staith (protective wharf) of Spaw washed away.

1736

Spaw rebuilt and enlarged.

1737

Staith damaged by subsidence and springs lost.

1738

2 February, springs rediscovered and staith repaired.

1739

Spaw House rebuilt.

1808

Spaw House damaged by storm. Rebuilding of Spaw.

1825

Spaw severely damaged by very high tide and nearly washed away.

1826

The Cliff Bridge Company was formed by 26 pioneers who met at the ‘George’ in York, and at the same time appointed Mr Outhett as Engineer at a salary of £200 for the erection of the bridge. Meeting was held 1 November 1826.

Until now the waters were retained and sold by the Corporation but this year the Spaw was taken over by the Cliff Bridge Company.

‘W’ omitted from ‘Spaw’ for the first time.

1827

Cliff Bridge opened on 19 July.

1836

House and Spa again destroyed by violent storm.

1837

Building commenced on Gothic Saloon (plans prepared by Henry Wyatt). First lease of Spa superseded by one dated 1 January 1837, in term of 200 years.

1839

Gothic Saloon opened 16 August.

1845

Saloon improved and enlarged.

1856

Sir Joseph Paxton consulted, and survey of Spa carried out by him.

1857

Work started on transformation and additions, according to his plans.

1858

New Spa Hall opened on 20 July with a festival and a grand concert.

1857/58

Prospect Tower added.

1861

Improvements made to Spa Gardens.

1871

Freehold of eight acres of land south of Spa purchased.

1875

South Cliff Tramway, the first cliff railway in England, opened to link Spa with Esplanade. Wells sheltered by erection of Band Rotunda, and rehabilitation of wells carried out.

1876

Grand Hall gutted by fire on 8 September.

1877

Present Spa building commenced October 1877, inside the original shell. Designer Thomas Verity & Hunt, London.

1880

Official opening of New Grand Hall (present) on 2 August 1880 by Sir Francis Wyatt Truscott, Lord Mayor of London, In State.

1881

First experimental lighting of Spa grounds with ‘Brush’ system electric light.

1886

New Spa restaurant opened.

1887

Sunday Concerts Began.

1894

Electric Light first used in theatre.

1904

Trams started running on Spa carriage road to town and back by Vernon Road.

1911

Extensions south of Spa, land purchased November - £7140.

1913

Building of new band stand — marble forecourt — colonnade and Grand Hall Café.

1914

Grand Hall Café opened.

1915

South Bay swimming pool completed at cost of £5000.

1920

Roof Garden added — Prospect Tower removed.

1924/25

Ballroom added.

1940/45

Last concert held 6 July 1940; reopened 21 May 1945.

1951

Cliff Bridge purchased by Council for £22,500. Freed of toll l19 July.

1953

Pay boxes town end of Spa Bridge removed in February.

1954

Glass screen erected around band stand (for ice show originally).

1955

New £2000 floor laid in ballroom and ballroom modernised and enlarged.

1957

The Spa purchased by the Council from the Cliff Bridge Company for £110,000.

1957

A concert on 26 October was the last event held under the old administration.

1958

New Spa restaurant opened at cost of £10,000.

1960

Spa Ballroom reopened on 16 April after extensive alterations at cost of £26,000. First season of Max Jaffa Concerts.

1963

Two domes on the sea side of the Spa were demolished and removed in November. Grand Hall modernised, balcony rebuilt and rest of hall reseated at cost of £27,550.

1965

February — Northern West Dome and stone surround demolished.

1967

Spa Ballroom altered with new intimate atmosphere.

1968

On the closing of the Olympia Ballroom, the Council decided to improve facilities at the Spa with the object of housing two separate conferences simultaneously. Work undertaken included additional secretariat facilities for conferences at the Grand Hall, provision of new toilets, improvements to the Green Lounge Café area, provision of conference secretariat and improvements to stage and catering facilities in the Ocean Room.

1981

The £3,000,000 scheme of improvement was completed, restoring the Spa Grand Hall to the full splendour of its Victorian heyday. Opening ceremony performed 23 May by Mr Michael Montague, CBE, Chairman of the English Tourist Board, in the presence of Sir Denis Truscott, former Lord Mayor of London and grandson of Sir Francis Wyatt Truscott who had performed the same ceremony just a century before.

1984

Completion of the second phase of the total scheme of refurbishment for the Spa, comprising an entirely new east façade and Promenade Lounge with mezzanine bar and enclosed foyer approach at a cost of approximately £2,000,000.

1986

A third and final phase costing £600,000 brought the Ocean Ballroom up to a much higher standard for multi-purpose use with additional catering facilities, passenger lift and new external staircase from roadway to terrace.

The Spa was operated by the Council 1698 to 1826

By Cliff Bridge Company 1826 to 1957

By the Council 1957 to date

(Research by Mr Cyril Prescott)