Gainford Spa and the Sulphur Spring by the River Tees

Some places do not shout for attention. They sit quietly, doing what they have always done, while the world changes around them. Gainford Spa is one of those places.

Tucked beside the River Tees, this small sulphur spring is easy to miss if you are not looking for it. The water is cold and clear, but the smell is unmistakable. A sharp, egg-like scent that makes you pause for a moment before stepping closer.

And yet, nearly two centuries ago, people came here on purpose. Not for the walk, or the scenery, but for the water itself.

The discovery of Gainford Spa

The story of Gainford Spa begins in 1834, when a borehole was sunk near the river and an artesian spring of sulphur-rich water was discovered rising naturally to the surface.

At first, it was simply a practical finding. Early records refer to it as the Borehole Well. But in the nineteenth century, sulphur springs carried a particular reputation, and it was not long before the site became something more than a curiosity.

At a time when mineral waters were widely believed to have restorative qualities, this small spring beside the Tees caught local attention.

Why it became known as a spa

By the Victorian era, Britain had developed a strong fascination with mineral waters. Across the country, natural springs were being labelled as spas, inspired by the famous spa town in Belgium and others closer to home.

The word “spa” did not imply scientific proof. It reflected belief, tradition, and hope.

Sulphur-rich water was thought to help with digestion, skin complaints, and general ill health. These ideas were widely accepted at the time, and people travelled to springs like Gainford to “take the waters”, often drinking it directly at the source.

Gainford Spa was named in this spirit, becoming part of a much wider Victorian culture that looked to nature for wellbeing.

The arrival of visitors and the railway

One of the reasons Gainford Spa became more accessible was the arrival of the railway.

In July 1856, Gainford railway station opened on the Darlington to Barnard Castle line. This transformed how people travelled through the Tees Valley and made the village far easier to reach.

Local accounts describe simple guesthouses appearing on higher ground above the station, offering accommodation for visitors who had come to try the spa water. Gainford never became a grand resort, but for a time it was a known local destination.

It took its place alongside other Tees Valley spa sites, such as Croft and Dinsdale, even if on a much smaller scale.

A slow fading from popularity

As the twentieth century approached, interest in spa waters began to decline.

Medical understanding was changing, and belief in the healing power of mineral springs gradually faded. The First World War also marked a shift in travel, leisure, and priorities.

The last known spa boarding house associated with Gainford Spa closed in 1910. After that, the spring remained, but organised visits and accommodation disappeared.

Gainford Spa quietly slipped back into the landscape.

Damage, loss, and restoration

Over time, the spa site suffered damage and vandalism, and parts of the original stonework were lost to the River Tees.

Local records note that in 2000, divers recovered original stones from the riverbed, remnants of the earlier spa structure that had been carried away over the years.

In 2002, with the help of local villagers, the spa spout was carefully remade, restoring the feature and allowing the spring’s story to continue.

What you see today is therefore not the untouched Victorian structure, but a thoughtful restoration that reflects the original design and preserves an important piece of Gainford’s local history.

The spring today

The water still flows naturally.

It remains cold and clear at the source, with the distinctive sulphur smell caused by dissolved gases in the water. That smell fades quickly once the water reaches open air.

Modern medicine does not support the old healing claims once associated with spa waters, but the spring continues to fascinate. It offers a glimpse into how people once understood health, nature, and wellbeing.

Local tradition also suggests the water makes a particularly strong cup of tea when boiled. Whether that is true or not is very much a matter of personal taste.

Visiting Gainford Spa

Gainford Spa sits quietly beside the River Tees, just outside the village of Gainford.

If you are travelling along the A67 towards Barnard Castle, just outside Gainford, you will see a small layby with an information board about the village. From here, head through the cut beside the layby and follow the path down towards the river.

The path leads you to the riverside, where the spa spring is set into the stonework. Nearby, a simple stone bench offers a place to sit and take in the setting.

There are no facilities and nothing commercial here. This is not a modern tourist attraction, but a small piece of local history that survives because people have cared for it.

If you visit, please take a moment to pause, be respectful, and leave it just as you find it.

A moment of calm by the river

Gainford Spa was never about grand buildings or bold promises.

It was about hope, belief, and the idea that nature might offer something restorative.

Today, it offers something simpler. A quiet place beside the river, and a connection to the people who once stood here, holding a cup, trusting the water, and believing.

Sometimes, that story is enough.