The spring at Hotwells, Clifton, Bristol, could be found on the intertidal mud next to an Iron Age causeway throughout the Iron Age, Roman, and Saxon use of the area*. The causeway is now destroyed, but was at the location currently beneath the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

What is probably the spring itself can still be seen on the Bristol side of the banks a couple of hundred metres downstream from the bridge, where it issues into an unusually algae-covered channel through the mud, and runs down to the Bristol Avon (Photo). Despite the crumpled ironwork around the spring, which may or may not be associated with it, no one in their right minds would cross the mud to try and reach it, so it is hardly surprising to find that if you are willing to take what must be almost as great a risk and cross the road, you can see what is possibly an old spring housing directly inland of it (Photo) (Photo).

The spring was pumped for a Spa and gave water at 23^oC./74^oF.*, and a walk directly above, along the top of the cliff, will bring you to the remains of the old Spa pumproom (Photo) inscribed This spring was - The original pump room erected 1694 - renowned, and afford you a glorious view across the length of the bridge (Photo) (info on the bridge).