Hotwells - BS8
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Hotwells - BS8 by David Hallam-Jones as part of the Geograph project.
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Hotwells - BS8
Image: © David Hallam-Jones Taken: 2 Aug 2012
Thomas Beddoes, a physician, opened the Pneumatic Institution in this white-painted corner house in Dowry Square in 1799. He advertised free treatment to individuals "suffering from asthma, dropsy, obstinate venereal complaints, tubeculosis and T.B-related conditions". Humphry Davy, who was his the laboratory superintendent here between 1799-1801 investigated nitrous oxide (a.k.a. laughing gas) using equipment designed by James Watt and subsequently proposed its use as an anaesthetic gas. Peter M. Roget of Thesaurus fame and a physician, is known to have spent 1799 here with Beddoes and Davy on the nitrous oxide research work. It seems too, that under Davy's supervision, guests including Robert Southey, Thomas Wedgwood and Samuel Taylor Coleridge enjoyed laughing gas sessions here. Jacob Schweppe, a German watchmaker and silversmith, ran a shop in Dowry Square selling carbonated water c.1812. Hotwell Road (A4) lies behind the photographer.
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Image Location
Latitude
51.45119
Longitude
-2.620341