A cool Port Elizabeth image:
Zwartkops Mineral Baths
Image by awstraton
The Zwartkops Mineral Baths in the early days.
Not many people are aware that off of the Grahamstown Road towards Swartkops in the region of Algorax, the Fish water Flats and Railway Depot a luxury spa (sanatorium) existed between the years 1914 and 1964 until it was sold to developers.
The mineral spring was discovered in 1906 by a private syndicate that was boring for oil and, at a depth of 3 600 feet struck water that rose under pressure to several feet above the surface and a quarter of million gallons of water at a temperature of around 55 degrees Celsius continued to flow until it was capped by the Department of Water Affairs in 1969.
On analysis, it was found that the spring water was heavy in healthful minerals which led to the building in 1914, by the Algoa Mining Company, of a fully equipped spa and sanatorium. The building contained 40 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, a dining room, drawing room, billiard room – and a cinema. In 1916, the spa was bought by the Pearson family of Port Elizabeth.
In 1936 a magnificent new spa was built. The equivalent of a five-star hotel, it included a magnificent piece of architecture named Spring Hall. A fountain set in green marble was built over the spring head – water poured out through metal jets into a pool below.
After the Second World War, the Swartkops spa went out of vogue. Antibiotics had been invented and people lost belief in natural cures.
In 1984, this spa building, which was then used by a timber merchant, was demolished.
Read more: mype.co.za/new/the-remarkable-zwartkops-mineral-baths-san…
The area today: goo.gl/maps/bvxrTpVFxqE2
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