314 PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD CLUB 1912 



as this last mentioned being sufficient to render the water 

 decidedly brackish to taste. Other mineral ingredients besides 

 those mentioned are contained in the water, but these are in 

 minor amount, and of relatively small importance. 



The origin and mode of formation of the salts contained 

 in these mineral waters is uncertain, though the subject has 

 for long afforded material for much interesting contemplation 

 and discussion. Generally it has been surmised that the 

 chlorides are derived from a deep source below the lias, whilst 

 the origin of the sulphates is more local and nearer at hand in 

 the lias clay itself. 



The map shows that following more or less regularly the 

 course of the small river Chelt through the centre of the town 

 and, dividmg sand from sand or sand from clay, goes a band 

 of deposit formed of gravel, bog and loam capped with allu- 

 vium. This bears water copiously to wells sunk into it, as 

 perhaps might be expected from the fact that it occupies the 

 lowest position in relation to the neighbouring surfaces, and 

 is adjacent to the river. 



Considered as a water-bearing subsoil, the upper part of 

 this band of deposit is superior to the sand in regard to the 

 quality of water yielded. From a well situated in this river- 

 side deposit at Sandford Mead, near the upper border of the 

 town, an important part of the original public water-supply of 

 the town was derived, and, in fact, this well is still available for 

 use, and was in use during the dry season of last year, when it 

 yielded about a quarter-of-a-million gallons of water a day 

 for several months without intermission, or sign of exhaustion, 

 and formerly it yielded as much during the whole year round, 

 the supply being of excellent organic purity, though considerably 

 harder than the water derived from the pure springs that issue at 

 the base of the Inferior Oolite on the neighbouring hills, or of the 

 water of the upper Chelt. This water compares altogether favour- 

 ably with water derived from the house-wells in the sand-bed 

 at first alluded to. A similar water is supplied from a well 

 in the same locality for the use of the Cheltenham College 

 Swimming Bath. The Corporation Swimming Bath at the 

 Montpellier Baths in Bath Road was supplied from a local well 

 sunk in the same deposit, until a change was made, not long 

 since, for economical reasons, which led to the disuse of the 



