Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
St Augustine's church on Dodderhill is the most prominent building locally, partly Nor-
man. Below in the park is a statue of St Richard of Droitwich, who declined inheritance of an
estate and went on to become Bishop of Chichester with a simple lifestyle.
The town was called Wich until Edward III formally gave the right, le droit, to manufacture
salt and this was added to the name. The Spa postscript was also added as this is Britain's
only saltwater spa town, developed by the Victorians from 1836 as a fashionable watering
place. Droitwich Spa Brine Baths were revived in the 1980s with water ten times as salty as
seawater or 40 per cent more salty than the Dead Sea. The source is rock salt deposits 60m
below the town. This is considered to be Britain's highest-purity salt and has produced a third
of Britain's needs, especially during the Hundred Years War when imports were cut off. A
brine well, enclosed by ornate railings, is next to the canal in the park, opposite a Waitrose
store.
The 19th century Chateau Impney, now a hotel and conference centre
.
The Gardners Arms is close to the park but the best of this market town with its timber-
framed houses stands away from the canal. Droitwich Spa Heritage & Information Centre
has a museum of local history featuring the Romans and salt extraction plus a brass-rubbing
centre. Droitwich Music & Arts Festival has conflicted with canal festival plans.
The Netherwich Basin was dug to load salt on to some 50 Wych barges. Marina users are
faced by a slipway. Damage to canal structures has resulted from subsidence and the salty
canal water is not good for steel hulls but has helped to preserve wooden structures.
