Barnet Physic Well
The waters of the Barnet Physic Well, located on the Common, were recommended as a remedy for various medical complaints in William Camden's Brittania (1586) as "The Barnet Whey" but only became well-known as a source of mineral water during the second half of the 17th century. In 1652 the well was described as producing "an excellent purging water" that worked as well as that of Epsom water but with half the quantity.
A well-house was built in 1656[3] and in 1661 the Well was described as "famous" by Joshua Childrey in his book Natural Rarities of England, Scotland and Wales.[14] In 1662, Thomas Fuller in Worthies of England hoped that its waters would save as many lives as were lost in the Battle of Barnet,[14] and Samuel Pepys recorded his visits in 1664 and 1667 in his Diary,[14] drinking five glasses of the water on his first visit which caused him to need to urinate "seven or eight times upon the road" home.[15] The Well was also mentioned by Daniel Defoe in his Tour of the Whole Island of Britain (1720s). It was popular into the 18th century but subsequently declined until being restored in the 20th century. A new Tudor-style well-house was built in 1937[14] which was restored in 2018.[15]
Barnet Physic Well
The waters of the Barnet Physic Well, located on the Common, were recommended as a remedy for various medical complaints in William Camden's Brittania (1586) as "The Barnet Whey" but only became well-known as a source of mineral water during the second half of the 17th century. In 1652 the well was described as producing "an excellent purging water" that worked as well as that of Epsom water but with half the quantity.
A well-house was built in 1656[3] and in 1661 the Well was described as "famous" by Joshua Childrey in his book Natural Rarities of England, Scotland and Wales.[14] In 1662, Thomas Fuller in Worthies of England hoped that its waters would save as many lives as were lost in the Battle of Barnet,[14] and Samuel Pepys recorded his visits in 1664 and 1667 in his Diary,[14] drinking five glasses of the water on his first visit which caused him to need to urinate "seven or eight times upon the road" home.[15] The Well was also mentioned by Daniel Defoe in his Tour of the Whole Island of Britain (1720s). It was popular into the 18th century but subsequently declined until being restored in the 20th century. A new Tudor-style well-house was built in 1937[14] which was restored in 2018.[15]