Crieff Hydro
Encyclopedia
Crieff Hydro is a hotel in Crieff
, Perthshire
, Scotland. The purpose-built hotel opened in 1868 as the Crieff Hydropathic Establishment, and is locally known as the Hydro. It was founded in 1868 by Dr Thomas Henry Meikle, who had received treatment at a centre in Gräfenberg
, Austria
(now known as Lázně Jeseník
, Czech Republic
), where Vincent Priessnitz had built such an establishment. Preissnitz based his pharmacopeia on water, plenty of exercise, fresh mountain air, water treatments in the cool sparkling brooks and simple wholesome country food.
, Scotland. When Priessnitz came to Britain on a visit promoted by the publications of Captain R. T. Claridge
, a prominent booster of his methods, The Lancet
was particularly scathing about his work, describing him as a charlatan and a fraud. However, Dr James Manby Gully
, also an Edinburgh medical graduate, picked up on the "water cure", his most famous patient being Charles Darwin
, who attended Gully's establishment in Malvern
, Worcestershire
.
Built in the second wave of such establishments in the UK in the latter part of the nineteenth century, Crieff Hydro utilised the Caledonian Railway
to bring a prosperous, sober clientele from the lowlands of Scotland to take the cure in upmarket conditions. The architect of the original Scots-Jacobean
style building, built at a cost of £30,000, was Robert Ewan, but the original building was extended in the later heyday of hydropathic spas in 1893–94.
It was successful from the start and, from a stable of 20 such establishments across Scotland at the peak, is one of only two left, the other being in Peebles
enjoying similar upland surroundings. Priessnitz considered mountain scenery an essential background to his Nature Cure
. By 1874, as medical superintendent, Dr Meikle was drawing a salary of £500 per annum, receiving dividends on his investment at the maximum of 7% and getting an extraordinary £279 as an ex gratia payment.
During World War II, the government took over the Hydro, and Free Polish forces
were billeted there, to the chagrin of some of the residents of the town, who felt scarce food supplies were being diverted to the Poles' exclusive use.
It has been a Category B listed building since 1971.
favoured the establishment), with a fine of one penny
being levied for those who missed grace before meals. The establishment still possesses an aura of its teetotal foundation, and has no bars, although though a table licence was obtained in the 1970s. It is run by the great, great, great, grand nephew of the original founder and medical superintendent. It became a favourite destination for alcoholics to dry-out. It offered and continues to offer cheap rates for Church of Scotland
ministers out of season, though they are not required now to lead daily prayers. Smoking was also disapproved of, though not banned, a small and obscure room being set aside for smokers' use.
hydroelectric scheme) and its own laundry. Although not a family business now, the company still has only 160 shareholders.
Crieff
Crieff is a market town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It lies on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich and also lies on the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins onto the A823 which leads to Dunfermline....
, Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
, Scotland. The purpose-built hotel opened in 1868 as the Crieff Hydropathic Establishment, and is locally known as the Hydro. It was founded in 1868 by Dr Thomas Henry Meikle, who had received treatment at a centre in Gräfenberg
Gräfenberg
Gräfenberg may mean:* Gräfenberg, a city in Franconia, Germany* Lázně Jeseník , administrative part of city Jeseník, Czech Republic** Gräfenberg Spa, a spa founded by Vincent Priessnitz in Lázně Jeseník- Family names :...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
(now known as Lázně Jeseník
Lázne Jeseník
Lázně Jeseník is a small village in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. It is administratively part of the city of Jeseník ....
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
), where Vincent Priessnitz had built such an establishment. Preissnitz based his pharmacopeia on water, plenty of exercise, fresh mountain air, water treatments in the cool sparkling brooks and simple wholesome country food.
History
In 1857, Dr Meikle, a recent medical graduate from Edinburgh University, observed Priessnitz's work and whilst being personally disparaging of him for his non-medical background, took back some of his principles for his new hydropathic establishment in AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland. When Priessnitz came to Britain on a visit promoted by the publications of Captain R. T. Claridge
Captain R. T. Claridge
Captain Richard Tappin Claridge, F.S.A. , was a prominent asphalt contractor and captain in the Middlesex Militia, who became best known for his prominent promotion of hydropathy, now known as hydrotherapy, in the 1840s. It was also known as the Cold Water system or Cold Water cure...
, a prominent booster of his methods, The Lancet
The Lancet
The Lancet is a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal. It is one of the world's best known, oldest, and most respected general medical journals...
was particularly scathing about his work, describing him as a charlatan and a fraud. However, Dr James Manby Gully
James Manby Gully
Dr James Manby Gully , was a Victorian medical doctor, well known for practising hydrotherapy, or the "water cure". Along with his partner James Wilson, he founded a very successful "hydropathy" clinic in Malvern, Worcestershire, which had many notable Victorians, including such figures as Charles...
, also an Edinburgh medical graduate, picked up on the "water cure", his most famous patient being Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin FRS was an English naturalist. He established that all species of life have descended over time from common ancestry, and proposed the scientific theory that this branching pattern of evolution resulted from a process that he called natural selection.He published his theory...
, who attended Gully's establishment in Malvern
Malvern
-England:* Malvern, Worcestershire* Malvern Hills, a ridge of hills on the boundary of Herefordshire and Worcestershire* Malvern Hills , a local government district in WorcestershirePlaces in or near Malvern, Worcestershire...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
.
Built in the second wave of such establishments in the UK in the latter part of the nineteenth century, Crieff Hydro utilised the Caledonian Railway
Caledonian Railway
The Caledonian Railway was a major Scottish railway company. It was formed in the early 19th century and it was absorbed almost a century later into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, in the 1923 railway grouping, by means of the Railways Act 1921...
to bring a prosperous, sober clientele from the lowlands of Scotland to take the cure in upmarket conditions. The architect of the original Scots-Jacobean
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
style building, built at a cost of £30,000, was Robert Ewan, but the original building was extended in the later heyday of hydropathic spas in 1893–94.
It was successful from the start and, from a stable of 20 such establishments across Scotland at the peak, is one of only two left, the other being in Peebles
Peebles
Peebles is a burgh in the committee area of Tweeddale, in the Scottish Borders, lying on the River Tweed. According to the 2001 Census, the population was 8,159.-History:...
enjoying similar upland surroundings. Priessnitz considered mountain scenery an essential background to his Nature Cure
Nature cure
Nature cure, natural hygiene, or natural care refer to methods of self-healing, often using fasting, dieting, rest, or hydrotherapy. These are, for example, used in the following systems of alternative medicine:* Orthopathy* Naturopathy...
. By 1874, as medical superintendent, Dr Meikle was drawing a salary of £500 per annum, receiving dividends on his investment at the maximum of 7% and getting an extraordinary £279 as an ex gratia payment.
During World War II, the government took over the Hydro, and Free Polish forces
Polish Armed Forces in the West
Polish Armed Forces in the West refers to the Polish military formations formed to fight alongside the Western Allies against Nazi Germany and its allies...
were billeted there, to the chagrin of some of the residents of the town, who felt scarce food supplies were being diverted to the Poles' exclusive use.
It has been a Category B listed building since 1971.
Regime
The principles of the establishment were decidedly firm and of a Protestant religious character (notably the United Presbyterians and the Evangelical UnionEvangelical Union
Evangelical Union can refer to:* Evangelical Union , a religious phenomenon in Scotland* Protestant Union, a coalition of Protestant German states in the 17th century* A union between Lutheran and Reformed Churches, e.g...
favoured the establishment), with a fine of one penny
Penny (British pre-decimal coin)
The penny of the Kingdom of Great Britain and later of the United Kingdom, was in circulation from the early 18th century until February 1971, Decimal Day....
being levied for those who missed grace before meals. The establishment still possesses an aura of its teetotal foundation, and has no bars, although though a table licence was obtained in the 1970s. It is run by the great, great, great, grand nephew of the original founder and medical superintendent. It became a favourite destination for alcoholics to dry-out. It offered and continues to offer cheap rates for Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
ministers out of season, though they are not required now to lead daily prayers. Smoking was also disapproved of, though not banned, a small and obscure room being set aside for smokers' use.
Operation
It was rather self-contained, farming its own estate until very recently, and possessing its own hydro-electric station, fed from Loch Turret until 1968, (now part of the seven-station BreadalbaneBreadalbane, Scotland
Breadalbane —from Scottish Gaelic Bràghad Albainn, "the upper part of Alba"—is a region of the southern/central Scottish Highlands in Atholl. The Breadalbane hydro-electric power scheme lies within the region.Clan Campbell has a Breadalbane branch...
hydroelectric scheme) and its own laundry. Although not a family business now, the company still has only 160 shareholders.