William Slingsby discovered Tewit Well in the late sixteenth century. The stone canopy originally stood over the Old Sulphur Well. The unusual name is derived from pewit, the local name for the Lapwing.

The Starbeck Spring was among the first known of the springs. Although it fell into disrepair in the 1700s and was almost lost, Michael Calvert restored it in 1822.

The springs at Harlow Carr are mentioned as early as 1740, but wells were not sunk on the site until 1840. Baths were erected soon afterwards and a hotel in 1844.

The Bog Springs
There are a remarkable number and variety of wells in this area. In 1864 there were 16 distinct wells and by 1886 there were 30. Most of the Sulphur Water was pumped away to supply the Victoria Baths and only two of the springs were used for drinking at the source - the Hospital Strong Sulphur Well, and the Magnesia Spring, over which the Improvement Commissioners built a pump room in 1858 at a cost of £100.