254 Notes, ArehcBological and Historical, 



The analyst further stated that there was only one other saline spring known to 



exist which was richer in sulphate of soda, namely, that of Leidchutz, in Germany. 



According to an analysis of the mineral water at Purton, the total solid residue 



per gallon was 341-728, and of sulphate of soda 112'239— temperature 58J degs. 



Sir H. B. Meux, Bart., has also on his estate at Christian Malford another chaly- 

 beate spring, which the people there aver to be superior even to that at Whitehill 

 in its curative properties. It is situated in the meadow between the residence 

 known as " The Comedy " and the road leading to Chippenham. In a most 

 interesting work (in four vols., London, 1742), intituled " A Tour through the 

 whole of Great Britain by a Gentleman," this spring is incorrectly stated to be 

 in the parish of Dauntsey, of which place it has a long and amusing account. 

 The spa is thus alluded to :— "Tho' this place is often overflowed with water, 

 yet there is none good either for brewing or washing, or any spring of sweet 

 water. Here is a spring of a chalybeate kind which would turn to good account 

 were it not in such a distant and almost inaccessible part of the country oc- 

 casioned by bad roads, which were a great protection to the inhabitants in the 

 late Civil Warrs, who were never visited by either party, but injoyed an easy 

 and uninterrupted repose, whilst their neighbours, on all sides, were involved in 

 the calamities of that unnatural war." The cheese made at Dauntsey is very 

 highly praised, being considered as equal to Cheddar, and it is stated that there 

 was not a single aeie of arable land in the parish, nor any which did not belong 

 to Lord Peterborough, who was so much cheated and imposed on by the widows 

 of his deceased copyholders that he recommended in a humorous way " his manor 

 of Dauntsey to all such as were apprehensive of dying." The author, who was 

 the celebrated novelist, Samuel Eichardson (the author of " Pamela," &c.), 

 describes the tower of Dauntsey Church as one of the best built he had ever seen. 



Aubrey, in his " Collections for Nu7'th Wilts," relating to Wootton Bassett, 

 mentions that at " the parke here there is a petrifying water which petrifies 

 very quickly." This petrifaction is a calcareous deposit from the water derived 

 from the coral rag. The spring is situated on the north side of the town at 

 a short distance from it, on a piece of land originally of a hundred acres, 

 called the "Lawn," or "Lawnd," mentioned in the petition to Parliament 

 from the inhabitants in the time of the Commonwealth as being assigned to 

 them for pasturage by Sir Francis Englefield, when he deprived them of their 

 supposed rights in Fasterne Great Park. 



Aubrey also mentions " that at Huntsmill there is a well where the water 

 turns the leaves, Sic, of a red colour." He probably saw this spring on his 

 visit to Oxford from Draycot, by the side of the road, before the latter was 

 diverted in 1793, at the time of the introduction of turnpikes. The water 

 has still that property from its ferruginous nature. From a quarry being 

 opened in 1832 on the other side of the road it now rises there. 



W. F. Parsons. 



The Fire at Colerne, 1774. 



The dreadful fire that happened at Colerne, in the County of Wilts on the 1st 

 of April, 1774, reduced to ashes forty-two dwelling-houses, two malt-houses, 



