Seething Wells Water - Surbiton’s Hidden Heritage

Seething Wells was a small area just outside Surbiton. There was not much there before 1848, except the main road from Kingston to Portsmouth, a few houses, pubs, a wharf and osier beds. This would be typical of what you would expect to see in a rural 19th century setting. Early maps call the area “Siden Wells” and show fields and farms.

There are some references to there being springs in the area. From at least the 18th century the spring had become “enclosed within a very old ivy covered well house containing a well and spring” (Ayliffe, 1914.36).  The spring itself yielded “an abundant supply of water, whose hot waters were exploited medicinally, especially for opthalmia” (Biden, 1852. 34). 

After lengthy negotiations, Lambeth Water Company bought land from the Earl of Lovelace at the end of 1849. Eviction notices were given to those living by the Thames at Long Ditton. The fate of the tenants is unknown. In all, as many as 200 people may have been cleared to make way for the works.

Seething Wells

Opening of the new Lambeth Water Works at Seething Wells in 1852

Here a some more in depth articles produced by

volunteer researchers for this project and maps

of the area- please click on a link