33 
Much importance was attached to the flow of the 
Bourne in 1852-3, as to its influence was ascribed the 
great outbreak of fever that occurred at Croydon at the 
time of the appearance of the Bourne, and continued 
while the Bourne lasted. 
In the paper and the discussion that followed it, we 
have for the first time recorded the volume of water 
flowing at the time of the Croydou Bourne flow. It is 
stated that the volume flowing in the spring of 1853 
before arriving at the Croydon and Epsom Railway was 
more than 19 million gallons per day, or 2111°1 cube 
feet per minute. Two gaugings are given of what is 
called the Bourne Brook, one of 17,625,600 and the 
other 16,158,780 gallons per day, or 1,958:4 and 
1,795°42 cube feet per minute respectively. The flow 
of the Bourne that rose 1860-1 is referred to, and 
Mr. Hawksley stated that the flow of the River Wandle 
was now 20 million gallons per day or 2222-2 cube feet 
per minute, and Mr. Fenton, the Surveyor of Croydon, 
stated that the flow under Riddlesdown of this Bourne 
was at the rate of 1,500 gallons (240 cube feet) per 
minute, and the flow out of the Bourne culvert at 
Croydon was 3,500 gallons (or 560 cube feet) per 
minute. It was also stated by Mr. Hawksley during 
the discussion on the paper that the sewers of Croydon 
at this time carried away nearly 2 million gallons per 
day of spring water (222-2 cube feet per minute). 
It is also recorded in the Minutes of the Croydon 
Local Board that the Bourne of 1860-61 was flowing 
on the 31st of December, 1860, at a point two miles 
‘from the town, and that it rose under Riddlesdown in 
November, 1860. 
The Author’s first personal acquaintance with the 
Croydon Bourne flow was that which occurred in the year 
1852-3. 
Outbreak of 
fever attri- 
buted to 
Bourne flow. 
First record 
of volume of 
water flowing. 
Gaugings of 
Bourne Brook. 
Flow of 
Wandle in 
1860-6]. 
Flow of the 
Bourne 1861. 
Leakage into 
Croydon 
sewers 1861. 
Date of 
Bourne flow 
1860-61. 
Author’s first 
acquaintance 
with Croydon 
Bourne. 
