11 
~ Whether this was really a true Bourne flow or a flood 
there may be some doubt, as, on the 8th January, 1776, 
he describes another flood at Canterbury. Both of these 
floods did much damage in washing down houses and 
causing considerable loss of life. 
He also says: “There is a nailbourne or temporary 
land spring such as are usual in the parts of this country 
eastward of Sittingbourne, which run but once perhaps 
in several years then failing and continuance having no 
active periods, the breaking forth of them being held 
by the common people to be a forerunner of scarcity 
and dearness of corn and victuals. This at Ospringe 
when it breaks out rises about half a mile southward of 
Whitehill, near Kennaways in the road to Stalisfield, 
and joining the above mentioned rivulet, which it con- 
siderably increases, flows with it into Faversham Creek. 
In February 1674, it began to rur but stopped before 
Michaelmas. It broke forth in February 1712 and ran 
with such violence along the high road, that trenches 
were cut through the lands adjoining to carry the water 
off, but it stopped again before Michaelmas. It had 
continued dry till it broke out afresh in 17538, and con- 
tinued to run till Summer 1778 when it stopped and 
has continued dry ever since.” 
. He also says, referring to Boughton under 
Blean, that the westernmost of the two streamlets flow- 
ing in this place is a nailbourne. He also mentions 
the nailbournes of Liminge, Drelingore (Alkham), 
Addington near Maidstone, and at Petham. 
In Manning and Bray’s “ History and Antiquities of 
the County of Surrey,” published in 1814, under the head 
of Merstham a statement appears to the following effect: 
“* At considerable intervals of time a stream bursts 
out from the foot of Merstham hill, commonly called 
Storm in 
Canterbury 
1776. 
Ospringe in 
1674and 1712. 
Ran from 
1753 to 1778. 
Nailbournes 
Boughton 
under the 
Blean, 
Liminge, 
Drelingore 
(Alkham), 
Addingion 
near Maid- 
stone, Petham 
Manning and 
Bray’s Surrey 
1814. 
