Dudley Lord North was a distinguished nobleman in King James's court .... this young nobleman had reached his twenty-fourth year, when he fell into a lingering, consumptive disorder that baffled the utmost efforts of medicine .... and his physicians advised him to retire into the country, and try the efficacy of that last remedy, change of air, for the re-establishment of his constitution.

His lordship, in the spring of 1606 made Eridge-House the place of retreat .... when, finding his disorder rather increased than diminished .... his lordship therefore, rejecting all sollicitation to remain any longer, abruptly quitted this retired mansion, and began his journey to London.

His road lay directly through the wood in which these useful springs were concealed from the knowledge of mankind; .... he could not pass by without taking notice of a water, which seemed to claim his attention, on account of the shining mineral scum that everywhere swam on its surface, as well as on account of the ochreous substance which subsided at the bottom, and marked its course to a neighbouring brook. His lordship accordingly observed these uncommon appearances, the meaning of which he could not instantly comprehend; however, they induced him to alight from his carriage, in order to examine it more attentively; and at the same time he ordered one of his attendants to borrow a little vessel from the neighbouring hovel, that he might taste it: and the peculiar ferruginous taste of the water not only convinced Lord North, that it held its course through some undiscovered mine, contained in the dark cavities of the earth, but also gave him room to fancy, that it was indued with some medicinal properties, which might be beneficial to the human race.

Some of the water was carried to London, the physicians were consulted upon its virtues, and .... the result of their inquiries proved so favourable to this hereto neglected spring, that they hasted back again to publish its valuable qualities, and to give their noble patient sufficient encouragement to try its efficacy, on the return of the vernal season

[in 1607] Lord North returned to Eridge to add the power of the water to the purity of the air, and .... the success he met with more than answered his most sanguine expectations, ...... he returned to town so perfectly freed from all his complaints