43 
the Elham Valley, by Lyminge, Elham, Barham, Bishopsbourne, 
and Beaksbourne, where it forms a permanent stream, flowing thence 
to Wingham, through Littlebourne, Ickham and Wickham. At Wing- 
ham it is joined by a branch stream fed by strong springs (‘ Nicker- 
pits”) at Danbridge, and by another stream running along the 
Tertiary escarpment by Ash towards Woodnesborough ; at the latter 
place there are large “swallow-holes” which absorb the water from 
the surface and convey it some distance underground. Passing 
Wingham these streams unite their waters in the Little Stour, which 
flows parallel with the Great Stour, till their waters finally unite 
at Stourmouth ; from which place the Stour (formerly the Wantsum) 
flows in a very circuitous course round to Sandwich, where it bends 
upon itself and flows out to sea at Pegwell Bay. 
The Dour, the next river, has two heads, one a little above Ewell, 
at a place called “ Little Waters,” and another southward towards 
Alkham, which rises at an elevation of about 300ft.O.D. The 
Alkham Valley receives the drainage of the higher hills, running as 
a “ Nailbourne,” these two streams unite at River, and thence, as 
the Dour, flow out to sea through Dover Harbour. The waters of the 
Dour are highly calcareous, and deposit travertine. Large quantities 
of this substance have been found in the Dour Valley, which formerly 
appears to have received a much larger quantity of water. 
To the north of Canterbury in the Tertiary area of the district the 
chief stream is one which rises, in the Blean Woods near Dunkirk, at 
an elevation of about 200 ft. O.D., and flows in a north-easterly 
direction to Chislet, where it flows through a valley called the 
Nethergong, and thence out to sea northwards by Reculver. 
A similar small stream, rising near the same place as the last, 
flows northward out to sea at Swalecliffe, and a third stream issues 
from the Blean Woods, and flows into Whitstable Bay by the 
Graveney marshes. 
Over the Tertiary area from Deal to Sandwich are several strong 
springs, which are partly used in the Delf, an artificial water-course, 
constructed to supply the town of Sandwich with water. One of 
these rises at Northbourne, receiving there the drainage of the Chalk 
_ valleys which run from west to east: this Northbourne stream 
empties into the Stour near Sandwich Haven. At Eastry another 
similar spring occurs, flowing in a like direction, and receiving in 
the same way the underground drainage from the Chalk valley 
running towards Dover. 
In the Isle of Thanet there are no streams of any importance ; but 
One occurs at “Great” and “ Little” Brooks End, and runs north- 
west into the sea near St. Nicholas, while another small brook is 
found eastward of Minster, emptying into Pegwell Bay; springs 
