William Slingsby
Encyclopedia
Sir William Slingsby was an English soldier
, who is noted as the discoverer of the first spa water
well
in Harrogate
, North Yorkshire
.
The son of Francis Slingsby and Mary de Percy, a descendant of Saer de Quincy, 1st Earl of Winchester
, he was born in Scriven
, Knaresborough
, West Riding
. After marrying Elizabeth Broard, daughter of Sir Stephen Broad of Broadshill, Sussex in 1582, the couple took a Grand Tour
of Europe
, returning in 1594. In 1596, Slingsby discovered that water from the Tewit Well
mineral spring at Harrogate, possessed similar properties to that from Spa, Belgium
.
In 1596 Slingsby served as a soldier on the Cadiz expedition, and again in 1597 against Spain.
He purchased the estate of Kippax, West Yorkshire
from Francis Bailden and in 1601 was made the junior Member of Parliament for Knaresborough
to his brother Sir Henry Slingsby, until 1611. He was knighted in 1603. After retiring from soldiering, he was made Deputy Lieutenant for Middlesex
in 1617. He was elected MP for Appleby
in 1626.
He died in 1634, leaving two sons and a daughter, and was buried in Knaresborough church. His nephew was Sir Henry Slingsby, 1st Baronet
.
His portrait by Moses Griffith
hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, who is noted as the discoverer of the first spa water
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
well
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
in Harrogate
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
.
The son of Francis Slingsby and Mary de Percy, a descendant of Saer de Quincy, 1st Earl of Winchester
Saer de Quincy, 1st Earl of Winchester
Saer de Quincy, 1st Earl of Winchester was one of the leaders of the baronial rebellion against King John of England, and a major figure in both Scotland and England in the decades around the turn of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.Saer de Quincy's immediate background was in the Scottish...
, he was born in Scriven
Scriven
Scriven is a surname, and may refer to:* Aubrey Scriven* Henry William Scriven* Joseph M. Scriven* Margaret Scriven* Michael Scriven* Paul Scriven* Peter Scriven...
, Knaresborough
Knaresborough
Knaresborough is an old and historic market town, spa town and civil parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located on the River Nidd, four miles east of the centre of Harrogate.-History:...
, West Riding
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
. After marrying Elizabeth Broard, daughter of Sir Stephen Broad of Broadshill, Sussex in 1582, the couple took a Grand Tour
Grand Tour
The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage...
of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, returning in 1594. In 1596, Slingsby discovered that water from the Tewit Well
Tewit Well
Tewit Well is a spa water well, the first chalybeate source discovered in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.After marrying Elizabeth Broad, in 1582 William Slingsby took his new wife on a Grand Tour of Europe, returning in 1594. In 1596, Slingsby discovered that water from Stray common in...
mineral spring at Harrogate, possessed similar properties to that from Spa, Belgium
Spa, Belgium
Spa is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liège. It is situated in a valley in the Ardennes mountain chain, some southeast of Liège, and southwest of Aachen. As of 1 January 2006, Spa had a total population of 10,543...
.
In 1596 Slingsby served as a soldier on the Cadiz expedition, and again in 1597 against Spain.
He purchased the estate of Kippax, West Yorkshire
Kippax, West Yorkshire
Kippax is a village and civil parish in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough, West Yorkshire, England. It is situated in the east of the city, near to Garforth and Great Preston....
from Francis Bailden and in 1601 was made the junior Member of Parliament for Knaresborough
Knaresborough (UK Parliament constituency)
Knaresborough was a parliamentary constituency which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom until 1868, and then one MP until its abolition in 1885.-Before the Great Reform Act:...
to his brother Sir Henry Slingsby, until 1611. He was knighted in 1603. After retiring from soldiering, he was made Deputy Lieutenant for Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
in 1617. He was elected MP for Appleby
Appleby (UK Parliament constituency)
Appleby was a parliamentary constituency in the former county of Westmorland in England. It existed for two separate periods: from 1295 to 1832, and from 1885 to 1918....
in 1626.
He died in 1634, leaving two sons and a daughter, and was buried in Knaresborough church. His nephew was Sir Henry Slingsby, 1st Baronet
Sir Henry Slingsby, 1st Baronet
Sir Henry Slingsby was a Yorkshire landowner and Member of Parliament who was executed for his adherence to the Royalist cause during the English Civil War....
.
His portrait by Moses Griffith
Moses Griffith (engraver)
Moses Griffith , was a Welsh draughtsman, engraver and water colourist.Griffith was born 6 April 1749 at Trygain House in the parish of Bryn Groer in Lleyn, Caernarvonshire. His parents were of humble station, and he received a very elementary education but, being clever with his pencil, he was...
hangs in the National Portrait Gallery.