There are many reference to the Newnham Regis Baths or Newnham Wells in publications over many centuries, as discussed here.
Perhaps the earliest reference from the printed press still in existence comes from the Coventry and Warwick Mercury of 5th August 1776, which carried an “ode” extolling the medicinal virtues of the Newnham waters, entitled, “An Old World Inland Watering Place,”. appeared a 58-line ode, reproduced below. It also has a footnote stating: “These waters are exceedingly efficacious in removing disorders, particularly the scurvy, leprosy, ulcers, the evil, inflammation of the eyes, rheumatism, etc.”
“Since the dire era, as the fable goes,
When Epimetheus, author of our woes,
Opened the fatal box with eager mind,
Replete with evils to afflict mankind:
They flew like lightning o’er the spacious earth,
And to diseases of all sorts gave birth.
Since Jove this dire calamity hath sent
Man’s mind has been unalterably bent,
To be from pains and maladies exempt,
But oft alas! was baffled in the attempt.
At length the God of Nature from on high,
Viewing us mortals with a pitying eye,
Form’d and prepared (so gracious was his plan)
An Universal Remedy for man
Caus’d from the solid rock pure streams to flow,
With virtues fraught, as numerous facts can show.
The chymist with his lab’ring art can’t find
Aught to relieve the body or the mind,
Like nature’s simples that alone impart
Health to the looks and vigour to the heart.
In this enlight’ned age man, wiser grown,
Nature neglects for fancies of his own;
Each ignorant quack pretends to wondrous skill,
And cures all illness with one nauseous pill.
Whilst such imposters swarm throughout our isle,
Nor health, nor fortune, nigh our dwellings smile;
But once let nature her true force obtain,
Our health and vigour we shall still regain.
The wonders wrought by Newnham’s happy spring
Are far beyond the poet’s skill to sing.
Besides the host of maladies severe,
Beauty ne’er fails to find improvement here.
The lass that would be delicate and fair
Needs only to this pleasant Bath repair;
It will remove all roughness from her cheek,
And make it like the polish’d ivory sleek.
The pimpl’d Toper may his humours clear,
And the gay youth his native colour wear ;
How much is this more worthy of a name
In tuneful lay consign’d to endless fame,
Than that which from the Muses mountains sprung
Which yet the bards of yore so sweetly sung?
Oft has Castalia’s votary musing sat,
Biting his nails and scratching his dull pate,
Whilst Newnham did another scene afford
Cheerful content with health once lost restor’d.
In classic land by each clear fountain’s side,
A beauteous naiade always did reside,
Who danced, who swam, enjoyed sweet rural sports
From flattery far and practices of courts:
In this respect (the muse exults to tell)
The Grecian fountains did not ours excel,
For the fair naiade that frequents this place
Is deck’d with charms and every female grace,
Her lovely form and parts improv’d by art,
Must make impression on the coldest heart,
Resistless are her charms to win the soul,
Ev’n fair narcissus would adore Miss C”
