364 ON THE SALT SPRINGS OF WORCESTERSHIRE. 



of the Red Marl with the Lias; for example, at Droitwich, at 

 Stoke Prior, apd also near Croome and Upton. The Lias is the 

 next in the ascending series of secondary strata to the Red 

 Marl ; and every point in this county, where the marl approaches 

 the Lias, it is more argillaceous than it is about Bewdley and 

 Kidderminster, and Martley and Ombersley; in all of which 

 places the sandstone has much greater firmness, and assumes a 

 rocky appearance. In this county the salt then is found in the 

 softer or argillaceous marl, and not in the firmer or lower beds of 

 sandstone. 



The most northern point of the Lias formation in Worcester- 

 shire is near Lower Bentley. From this place its line of junction 

 with the Red Marl passes about one mile south-east of Hanbury, 

 and thence at the back of Meer Hall to Goose Hill, and on the 

 north of the Trench woods to Crowle; its course being for the 

 most part marked by a low range of hills. At Crowle there is 

 a good section of it, shewing very distinctly its junction with 

 the red marl. From Crowle, the line of junction crosses suc- 

 cessively the roads to Alcester, Evesham, and Pershore, and it 

 then turns due south, passing close to Pirton, and crossing 

 Croome Park, where it forms a low bank, with the house at the 

 foot and the gardens at the top. From Croome the Lias may be 

 traced to Baughton Hill, which is about two miles and a half 

 north-west of Upton. Thence it runs nearly south, crossing the 

 Worcester road and forming a good junction with the Red Marl 

 near to Ripple. Pursuing the investigation further, due east, 

 over to the opposite bank of the Severn, several patches of Lias 

 may be discovered, the most northern of which is an outlyer 

 at Longdon Heath, a mile and a half south of Upton. The 

 Lias thence runs south by Pull Court, and soon afterwards 

 we pass into Gloucestershire, to which these observations are not 

 intended to reach. 



It will now be seen that nearly the whole of the south- 

 eastern extremity of Worcestershire belongs to the Lias forma- 

 tion ; and I have drawn attention to this fact, in order that 

 the source of the saline springs, which arise in this part, and 

 whose properties so nearly resemble those of Cheltenham and 

 Leamington, may be investigated. 



The saline springs which occur in this part of Worcestershire 

 are — 



1st. The Hampton Spa, near Evesham. 



2nd. The Hasler spring. 



3rd. The Defford spring. 



4th. A spring near Bourn Bank, Upton. 



5th. A spring at Churchill, near Spetchley. 



6th. A spring near Stone Bow Turnpike. 



7th. A spring at Cauldwell ; 

 and also springs at Abberton and Pinvin, — to which we might 

 also add, as closely adjoining our county, the springs at Tewkes- 



