198 H. 6. FOEDHAM — THE EAETHQUAKE ' 



screamed vociferously as though much frightened, a thing she had 

 never been known to do before in the night. A cottager living 

 a short distance from us also felt the shock in the same way. We 

 understand at about two miles from us a cottager had some 

 ornaments shaken from his mantelpiece. — Sarah Darly, White Hall 

 Farm, Luffenhall, Ardeley, Stevenage. 



*Time, 5.3U a.m. Bed shook and furniture, also basin on the 

 washhand-stand, etc. Did not notice any interval. The duration 

 of the shock was three or four seconds. A rustling sound, like 

 birds in the chimney, was heard. The sound was heard first, then 

 the furniture shook, and then the bedstead. The motion seemed to 

 travel from S.E. to N.W. — Observers: [Miss] Mary H. Young, 

 and [Mrs.] Mary Ann Wright, Moor Hall, Ardeley. 



* Locality, five and a half miles \V. of Stevenage. The observer 

 "was in bed asleep on the first fioor. Time, about 5.30 a.m. The 

 shock was just like the approach of a very heavy goods train, and 

 the consequent gradual sensation of noise. Its duration was thirty 

 seconds. The window, crockery, fire-irons, etc., rattled, and the 

 bed shook violently. The sound became gradually louder, and then 

 died away. — Maude Josephine Scott , Ardeley tiury. 



Watton. — I was one of those aroused by the earthquake, and as 

 very few people in our district felt it, I think it worth -while to 

 mention it to you. The shock was not very severe, but was strong 

 enough to make the windows, etc., rattle, and lasted a few seconds. 

 I cannot really give a more accurate account, as by the time I was 

 thoroughly awake it was all over. I confess I was one of the 

 foolish persons to whom the idea of burglars occurred in the first 

 instance ; but having felt the earthquake about fiiteen years 

 ago,* I soon realized what it was. — Ahel H. Smith [M.P.], Watton 

 Rectory, Hertford. 



Bramfield. — The shock of the recent earthquake was felt at 

 " Green Hill Farm," which is situated a mile from the village. 

 The house stands alone, on rather high ground, and being very 

 much exposed has often been felt to shake when the wind is rough, 

 but never to roch in the peculiar manner experienced on the 

 morning in question. The occupants of two bedrooms distinctly 

 felt the beds rock to and fro, and the sensation experienced thereby 

 was novel, puzzling, and ever-to-be remembered. An unusual, 

 indistinct, and indescribable sound preceded the movements, which 

 were followed by a perfect silence and calm. One of our men, on his 

 way to work through the woods which surround our fields, states 

 that the pheasants and [other] birds suddenly made a loud cry and 

 flutter as though greatly agitated. The time was about half-past 

 five in the morning. 1 was wide awake at the time, half lying and 

 partly sitting in bed, my head resting on the back of the bedstead, 

 hesitating to face the i;npleasant but inevitable duty of getting up. 

 The position was excellent fox feeling and hearing all that occurred. 

 — J. Salmon, Green Hill Farm, Bramfield, Hertford. 



* Probably the East Anglian earthquake of 22nd April, 1884. 



