Spring Wells

Church Street, Billingborough NG34 0QG, England links to Google map 

Billingborough Spring Wells are natural artesian springs.

Look closely!!! You will see the water bubbling up from the rocks deep below.

The Billingborough Spring Wells are accessible all year round. They are located centrally within the Billingborough conservation area, with The Old Hall nursing home to the north, St Andrew’s Church and the Springwells medical practice to the east, Billingborough Village Hall and Community gym to the South, and are just off from the High Street to their West, with its traditional Fortescue Arms pub, post ‘n’ more, and further shops.  

Billingborough Spring Wells with views of St. Andrew's church

Billingborough Spring Wells views from Chapel St.

Tracing the Billingborough Spring Wells history

The Aveland History Group provide an excellent article on the history of the Spring Wells, with very interesting photos from Aveland Archive.

The Wildlife

The water and its island are home to a population of mixed domestic and wild ducks and fowl.  These change from year to year but you are likely to see Indian Running Ducks (domestic), White Pekin ducks (domestic), Pochard x Ferruginous Hybrid ducks (wild), Moorhens (wild).

There are many free apps that recognise birds from their sounds. Merlin is one of those apps, you can download it for free.

When the pond dried up in 2011 there was also a large number of rare eels found.

Geology

 The springs are fed by the Lincolnshire Limestone Aquifer, with rain falling on the uplands near Grantham flowing eastwards along the dipping limestone strata and being forced up under pressure here. 

The Water

The water is slightly warm and seldom freezes. The water no doubt attracted early settlers and there is evidence of Iron Age and Roman settlement nearby.

The water is “chalybeate”, meaning it contains iron salts, and as such would have been highly valued by the Victorians for health giving.  The cisterns where the Victorians drew their water by hand can still be seen on either side.

The springs have only dried up twice in living memory – in 1967 and in 2011 when the water did not reappear for 6 months.

Access and contact details

Billingborough Spring Wells, Church Street, Billingborough NG34 0QG, England, is accessible all year round by car, foot, or bicycle. The car park by the Spring Wells is mainly for the medical practice. You can park at the Fortescue Arms, 27 High St, Billingborough, Sleaford NG34 0QB, which is only a minute walk away, and offers toilet facilities.   

Check out Billingborough Spring Wells on Tripadvisor.

We follow the Visit England National Code for Visitor Attractions.

For more information or to provide visitor feedback about Billingborough Spring Wells please contact: clerk@billingborough-pc.gov.uk