| Contemporary accounts | 1990s account |
| Prior use for at least 150 years | Prior use for several centuries |
| No account of professional opinion of the waters prior to establishment as a spa. | Doctors and gentry did not value it. |
| Sadler drained the field and inadvertently the well also. | The spring inconveniently flooded the lane so Sadler drained the area. |
| Well was filled in. | Well was obstructed with cartloads of earth and fenced off with railings |
| 'Much murmuring and dissatisfaction' plus local stories of healing water induced Sadler to reopen the well. | Sadler upset the villagers. They broke the lock to get to the water. |
| Sadler observed the locals coming to drink the water and noticed high numbers of cures. | Sadler fell seriously ill and was cured by drinking the water. |
| Sadler had the water tested and it proved to be similar to the Pyrmont spring water. | Eminent chemists analysed the water and it proved to be unique (thus proving the locals correct all the time) |
Table comparing contemporary
accounts of Salt's Hole/Purton Spa with
writings in the 1990s
Page designed by Rich Pederick (© Living Spring
Journal, MM)
Written & maintained by Katy Jordan & Rich Pederick
Created May 1, MM