The Bath Grounds Area

The start/finish field is named the 'Bath Grounds' which, with the adjacent Royal Hotel and its distinctive four tall pillars at its entrance, are a reminder of Ashby having been a Spa town.

A salt water spring was discovered in Moira, some four miles away, around 1815. Baths were built there but, being next to a grimy colliery, they were never going to be a success. Instead, Ivanhoe Baths were built in 1822 on the town side of the Bath Grounds with its 150 foot colonnaded front and ladies and gents baths at either end. Water was transported the four miles by tram and canal, then railway, so Ashby Spa never had its own spa!

The Spa town prospered for 50 years, then the Baths went into decline and within another 50 years were out of use. Sadly, the thinking in the 1960's was to demolish the dilapidated ruin. You will see the odd section of pillar or carved stone in the Finish area.