195 
eS 
ness of the great Oolite strata is scarcely 12 feet, having thinned 
out in a very extraordinary way from the 105 feet of excellent 
freestone at Box, and materially altered in its structure and 
appearance, being harder and more siliceous, The stone quarried 
at the summit of this hill is carried by an inclined tramway down 
to the new reservoir, to form a basement on which to lay the 
flooring. Mr. Charles Gilby, Assistant-Engineer to the Bath 
Waterworks, here met the party, and, standing on the brow of 
the hill overhanging the vale, explained the various excavations, 
buildings, and embankments now under construction. The stream 
which runs at the bottom of this combe is a small feeder of the 
larger stream, which, following the sinuosities of the deep and 
picturesque valley of St. Catherine, finally disembogues into the 
Avon at Batheaston. The water of this brook, however, is not 
to be used for filling this storage reservoir, but is carried round 
the same in an artificial bricked channel, and finally led into its 
former course. The large storage reservoir will be filled by the 
purest water from springs which are conducted first into the small 
Monkswood reservoir now existing, and thence will overflow into 
the larger reservoir now under construction. A farm and eight 
acres of land were purchased for this purpose from Earl Temple, 
who is building a new farmhouse and bartons on the hill above. 
Messrs. Neave and Son, of Paddington, contracted to complete 
the work for £18,278, which, with the purchase of the land and 
_ tenants’ compensation, iron work, salaries, and contingencies, 
reached the total of £30,000, a loan for which amount the Local 
Government Board sanctioned. With this great storage reservoir, 
capable of holding some 50 million gallons, it is to be hoped that 
Bath will be long spared a water famine. The bottom of the 
reservoir is in the lias clay, and a thick layer of peat is found 
upon it in certain parts, which has to be dug out. On this being 
done, a number of bronze ornaments were found in one spot, 
torques, rings and other articles, which Mr. Charles Gilby has at 
present in his office in the temporary Waterworks Offices in 
‘ 
: 
