Our spring water is making quite a splash (From Worcester News)

Our spring water is making quite a splash

10:47am Friday 23rd July 2010 in

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COOL, fresh Malvern spring water has been gurgling out of the hills and into bottles for hundreds of years.

Holywell Spring in Malvern Wells is the original source – the first site in the entire UK where bottled water was produced. It has a potted history, stretching back over the centuries, but the Humm family, who now own it, are currently celebrating one year since they started producing Holywell Spring Water.

The high-end of the market water is causing quite a splash among local restaurants and retailers. It is already on the shelves at Waitrose stores in Malvern, Droitwich and Cheltenham and has just been picked up by the Glasshouse brasserie in Worcester.

An impressive 1,200 bottles of Holywell Spring Water are being produced and bottled at source every day – with room for expansion.

Rhys Humm runs the spring with his father Mike and he is, quite appropriately, a font of knowledge when it comes to Holywell. Giving your Worcester News a tour of the family-owned site, tucked away in Malvern Wells, he explained how they bought the neighbouring house in 1999, not realising that the Germanic building next door came included in the price.

The building, in the style of Baden Baden architecture, was put up in 1843 but the site itself goes back to the 16th century when Holywell – Holy meaning health in mediaeval English – was owned by Queen Elizabeth I.

In 1558 Elizabeth I gave the spring to local man John Hornyold on the condition that he kept it open to passers-by and come 1622 the astoundingly fresh, cool water spurting from the spring was bottled by the pilgrim monks from Great Malvern Priory.

In 1850 Schweppes bought Holywell. They sold their spring water at the Great Exhibition of 1851, only leaving the site to move to a bigger factory in Colwall in 1891.

The spring then passed to the Cuff family, who remained until the 1960s when the production site and the spring fell quiet.

By the time Mike and Marian Humm arrived it had fallen into disrepair.

“The renovation of the building around the spring was a labour of love, but we had Heritage Lottery Funding and it has been well worth it,” said Rhys, who joined the family company as director earlier this year.

“We are still committed to honouring Queen Elizabeth I’s wish that Holywell provides ‘rest and refreshment’.”

In 1979 the site gained listed status and two years ago a huge renovation scheme was undertaken as part of the £1 million Malvern Heritage Project, backed with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Today, while the Humm family’s factory produces still and sparkling Holywell Spring Water for customers all over the Midlands, passers-by can visit the well, take a cup and enjoy the fresh taste of Malvern’s original water for themselves.

If they would prefer their crystal clear refreshment with a bite to eat they could visit the Glasshouse in Sidbury, Worcester, which is the latest restaurant to start stocking Holywell Spring Water. Manager Steve Lloyd said: “Our philosophy is to source our ingredients, produce and supplies locally wherever possible, and Holywell is not only very local, but the water tastes amazing.

“Our customers love its pure taste, which I believe is down to the hardness of the Malvern rock.”

For more information on Holywell Spring Water, visit holywellspringwater.co.uk or call the family on 01684 568548.