A mine shaft was sunk in 1821, in an attempt to find coal, about a mile to the east of the Kirkstead shaft dug in 1819 (see PRN 46428). The shaft was financed and owned by John Parkinson, a land speculator from Bolingbroke. The shaft reached a depth of about 280 yards (256m) and there was a further narrower boring of about 120 yards (110m), perhaps in a desperate effort to find coal. No coal was found and the shaft was closed in 1823 with wooden planks laid over the shaft. When it was dug, the shaft had cut through a saline spring about 170 yards (155m) down which did inconvenience the work somewhat. By 1824 water had overflowed from the top of the shaft and between 1825 and 1829 this water seems to have gained a reputation locally as a cure. Eventually, by 1839, the local squire, Thomas Hotchkin, built the Spa Bath and hotel complex on the site (see PRN 46430). This began the development of the Woodhall Iodine Spa and eventually the settlement of Woodhall Spa. {1}