ON THE SALT SPRINGS OF WORCESTERSHIRE. "84^1 



must inevitably add to our present happiness and enjoyment, but 

 also that our researches may lead to great practical advantages. 



With respect to the depth below the surface at which the brine 

 is procured, I may, in the first place, observe, that the marl from 

 twelve to eighteen feet from the surface, which is about the depth 

 of the pump wells at Droitwich, is abundantly supplied with 

 springs of water, which, in many parts of the town, afford very 

 good pump water for domestic purposes. But this is not the 

 case in parts of the town near to the south bank of the 

 river Salwarp. Many of the wells in this direction, which are not 

 much above twelve feet deep, yield water so much impregnated 

 with salt as to be unfit for domestic purposes. I evaporated 

 some water, for example, obtained from a pump in the town a 

 little to the south of the canal, and procured from a pint of 

 water 540 grains of salt.* 



I dwell upon these circumstances in order to shew that it was 

 probably the salt-springs rising so superficially which in the first 

 instance directed the inhabitants in by-gone times to become 

 salt-makers ; for it appears that this superficial indication of salt 

 is a very good guide to it at a greater depth, most of the 

 brine pits that are now worked occurring in the part of the town 

 where these superficial weak brine springs prevent the inhabitants 

 from having good pump water. These springs, however, would 

 be of little use in affording brine for evaporation, the quantity of 

 salt contained in them being much too small to repay the ex- 

 penditure occasioned by the consumption of the coal necessary 

 for that purpose. In order to obtain the brine fit for evaporation, 

 80 as to afford a remuneration for the expence of this process, it 

 is necessary to penetrate very much deeper. The section from 

 the surface is as follows : — First a stratum of mould, three 

 feet deep; then a stratum of red marl, forty feet deep, which 

 abounds with water of a brackish nature. After that a stratum 

 of marl, which extends for 130 feet. In this marl there are 

 no springs of water: it is quite dry, but is penetrated with 

 perpendicular veins of gypsum (sulphate of lime). At the 



♦ No. 1. South of canal. Solid contents 540 grains in 16 fluid ounces. Soda 

 and lime, combined with muriatic and sulphuric acids, with a trace of iron. 



No. 2. Norbury's. Solid contents 12 grains in 16 fluid ounces. Lime and 

 soda, combined with muriatic and sulphuric acids, with a slight trace of iron. 



No. 3. Penrice's. Solid contents 8 grains in 16 fluid ounces. Lime, com- 

 bined with muriatic and sulphuric acids, with a slight trace of iron. 

 No magnesia indicated in either of the above — no iodine. 

 The average depths of fresh water springs in the vicinity of Droitwich are as 

 follows, viz. : — 



At Wilton, about 40 feet. 



At Smith's Corner, at the bottom of the Hill ... 14 

 At James Hale's, at the top of St. Andrew-street 18 



In the town, about 9 



At Hill-end 22 



At the Ford 22 



At Rashwood .100 



