William Abbotts

William Abbotts (1736 – 1 March 1805[1]) was one of the founding fathers of Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, UK.

Up until that date there was only one known spring in Leamington and that was on land belonging to the 4th Earl of Aylesford who refused to sell the water (which was used for bathing and medicinal purposes), instead allowing people to have it for free.

In the manner of the time its supposed medicinal qualities were used to make money from the leisured classes.

Leamington quickly grew into on the most fashionable spa resorts of the 19th century, a process which turned it from a sleepy village to a thriving town.

Abbotts Street in the town is, unsurprisingly, named after him and is located close to the site of the original Leamington spring.