WATER, water everywhere but not a drop to drink!

We’ve seen a lot of water this summer, however, the sunshine has returned late this month.

With its return it’s very important to stay hydrated, especially people that are vulnerable.

The best way to stay hydrated is to drink plenty of water and we are very lucky to be able to turn the tap and see a glass of fresh, clear, cold water.

In fact, we do take clean water for granted.

In the past, Worcester citizens were not so lucky.

Some people were fortunate to have access to one of several springs on both the east and west banks of the River Severn.

In the medieval period, monks diverted the best spring water from St John’s using watertight lead and wooden pipes to the Priory.

These pipes even crossed the old bridge between Tybridge and Newport Street.

Sadly, by the early 19th century some of the springs had dried up and most water sources had become ‘tainted’ or polluted by sewage and industrial waste.

This was typical in any thriving city with a growing population.

Before the large reservoirs were built and before great pumping stations were erected, most water came from simple wells sunk into the ground water.

Rain water was also collected in large open barrels in the overcrowded courts.

The danger from this form of water was from what fell or swam in them.

Another unlikely source for water was direct from the river.

A river that also acted as an open sewer for every town, city or settlement along its 220 miles from source to sea.

Those who could not collect their own water would pay a ‘water carrier’ half a penny for a bucket of river water to be delivered direct to their homes.

The rich were fortunate to have easier access to cleaner water, however, the larger population of the lower classes shared wells and a simple hand pump or roped bucket was the norm.

At one point in the 1800s a survey of over 2,000 homes showed only 400 with close access to water.

Surveys were carried out by the city before major steps could be made.

Bull Entry with over 40 properties had one water pump. Grainger Entry had two.

Hounds Lane had 30 homes with access to one pump. Watercourse Alley ironically had 29 properties with one pump also.

One city official described a common scene of “fighting and squabbling at the water-pipe!”

It was also observed that many wells were located very close to the privy or toilet.

In Bull Entry the pump stood 75 feet from the overflowing privy. Grainger 55ft.

The term ‘tainted’ appears a great deal in reports and documents from the time.

Overcrowded areas did not have enough toilets.

There was no sewer system like we have today and wells and privies were often badly constructed allowing sewage to mix in the water table with drinking water.

Disease was common and following several cholera epidemics work was finally proposed and improvements made.

It was not until the 20th century that things improved greatly.

It is interesting to see life expectancy improve and diseases became more and more rare.

The slum clearance before and after the two World Wars may have destroyed much of old Worcester but the city became physically healthier for it.

Next time you buy a bottle of water, turn on the tap for a drink or water the plants, just think how precious water was for our ancestors, especially those not so distant.

Our columnist Paul Harding runs Discover History which offers hands-on learning of the county’s history.