The infant Harrogate Spa was given an important boost in 1631 when Michael Stanhope discovered a second mineral well about a quarter of a mile east of the Tewit Well.
This was the well which later became known as the St John’s Well because of its proximity to the neighbouring chapel of St John, and which in its early days was known by the descriptive title of the Sweet Spa.
The new well was similar to the Tewit Well in being an iron, or chalybeate, water. The elevated land on which the Tewit and Sweet spas were situated became known as High Harrogate, in contrast with Low Harrogate in the valley, the source of the rich sulphur waters. So long as chalybeate water retained public favour, High Harrogate held sway over its sister community.
Alexander Wedderburn, Lord Chancellor of England, had acquired land in Harrogate where he had built Wedderburn House, and, in 1786, provided the neighbouring St John’s Well with a handsome octagonal pump room, the waters of which were favoured by his wife..