38 



refer to Mr. Roberts's levels we shall see that the rails on the bridge over the 

 Canal at Wideinarsh are 183'98 feet above the sea. Mr. Curley has marked 

 31 "4 at these rails ; that is, they are 31 '4 feet above his datum point at the 

 Bridge, and therefore we know that the ordinary summer level of the Wye at 

 Hereford Bridge is 152 "58 feet above the sea. The ground at the west end of 

 the Cathedral is 31 "8 feet above the datum point, at the High Town 31*2 feet, 

 and at the crossing of East-street and Church-street 35 '5 feet. The highest 

 ground in East-street, a few yards from this crossing, and some inches higher, 

 is the highest part of Hereford (proper). 



But the suburbs are much higher. Aylestone Hill, at the site of the 

 demolished turnpike-gate, is 118'6 feet above the datum point, and at the 

 highest part of Folly Lane 121 '3 feet. The walk round the great reservoir at 

 the Waterworks is 102 feet above the datum point, and that round the Filter 

 Beds 88 'G feet. No water service is to he laid higher than 77 feet. 



Thus by adding 152 '58 feet to any of Mr. Curley's figures we ascertain at 

 once the height of any portion of Hereford above sea level. I wiU here give 

 a few of the most important altitudes : — Feet above sea level : Folly Lane, 

 273-88; Site of Aylestone HiU turnpike gate, 27118; First Step of White 

 Cross, 200-20; First Mile-stone on White Cross Road, 195-38; Crossing of 

 Church-street and East-street, 188-08; Ground at West End of Cathedral, 

 184-38 ; at Shu-ehall, 183-88 ; at High Town and Old Timber House, 183-78 ; 

 Richmond Place, 182-78; Mark on the Plinth of Post Office, 182-58 ; Com-- 

 mercial-street at the end of Gommond-street, 181-38; Widemarsh -street at 

 meeting of Blue School-street and Cattle Market-street, 181-58; St. Owen- 

 street at Mr. Cam's house, 179-98; Commercial-road at Coonty Gaol, 171-38; 

 at Gas Works, 169-68 ; Bridge over the Railv.ay (at the foot of Aylestone 

 Hill), 190 -.''.8; Crossing of Roads at foot of Aylestone Hill, 187-58; Surface 

 of the Canal (opposite Barr's Court Station), 172-98. 



Mr. Cole, the city surveyor, who, by the way, has afforded me some very 

 valuable assistance in drawing up this paper, informs me that the rails at 

 Barr's Cotirt Station are 3-16 feet above the surface of the canal at Barr's 

 Court, so that their altitude, at present, is 176-14 feet. From information 

 received from the Engineer's office in 1869, and from a connection established 

 by levelling between the Leominster rails rnd the Leominster bench marks in 

 that year, it -was (included that the rails at Barr's Court Station were 174 feet 

 above sea level, and this altitude will be found given in previous copies of the 

 " Woolhope Transactions." 



Measurements of heights by barometer are not, of course, capable of 

 affording such exact results as measurements by the spu-it level or theodolite. 

 But very close approximation to the truth may be obtained when the stations 

 are not very far apart, the instruments good, and the observers experienced 

 and careful. When stations are many miles apart a number of observations 

 should be made and the mean taken. Sometimes, I suppose when the air is 

 rmusually still, a very tiiie result is obtainable at a great distance. 



