becket's well, derby. 



47 



passing, we cannot help saying nothing has astonished us more than 

 the disgustingly filthy condition into which the well had been allowed 

 to subside, having been made the receptacle for all the foulness 

 of the neighbourhood. We shall not soon forget the feeling of 

 nausea we experienced while making the sketches which accom- 

 pany this paper, the debris being allowed to remain for weeks, 

 although we have what is called a "sanitary authority." The 

 architecture of the well is certainly not very imposing, but it shows 

 what could be done in the good old days of Oliver Cromwell. 



We will now endeavour to describe the stonework and other 

 features of the well as it recently appeared ; and here we must 

 refer to the drawing which shows the appearance of the 



well before the octagonal cone was again raised over it. By this 

 we are able to point out the different styles of building. It will be 

 observed that the lower part, as high as the ledge which projects 

 beyond the superstructure on two sides, is of very much better 

 work than what has been built upon it. This we take to be the 

 original building of the Cluniac monks or of the canons of Darley 

 Abbey. The stones are large and well-chiselled, and much better 



