198 ARTESIAN WELLS IN DORSET AND ELSEWHERE. 



ere an adequate supply of water could be obtained. According 

 to Mr. Pope it is concluded that the base of the boring is 22oft. 

 above the Upper Greensand, which would give Siyft. for the 

 thickness of the Chalk at Dorchester. 



The history of artesian water supply at Wimborne (Figure 3) 

 is an interesting one, for there the hydrostatic pressure, before 

 the supplies had been tapped so freely as in later years, was 

 sufficient to raise the water from the Chalk to the surface and 

 far above it. Forty years ago (in 1867) a three-inch borehole 

 was made at Ellis's brewery, where the Chalk is said to have 

 been reached at a depth of gyft. There was such an uprise that 

 the yard was flooded by a column of water of considerable 

 height. It is interesting to note that in this case the water 

 seems to have been obtained without sinking into the Chalk to 

 any depth. This brewery is situated in the Allen Valley flat 

 and about 6oft. above O.D. 



By far the most important of the artesian wells at W ; imborne 

 are the Wimborne Waterworks and the Bournemouth Water- 

 works. These are situated at the north end of the town in the 

 valley flat of the Allen, close to each other and to Warford 

 Bridge, at an elevation of about 66ft. above O.D. As regards 

 the Wimborne Waterworks, Mr. Fletcher * says that this boring 

 was executed under his superintendence about twenty years ago. 

 It is a yjin. bore, and until the Bournemouth Well was sunk 

 within 200 or 300 yards of it, the water rose in the tube well 6ft. 

 above the surface of the soil. This well is situated on the 

 S.E. side of Warford Bridge, and the following is the vertical 

 section : 



Thickness. Depth. 

 Ft. In. Ft. In. 



r Peaty matter .. .. 60^ 



Superficial -! Subcalcareous silt .. 8 0^-15 o 



I Valley gravel & sand-rock . . i oj 



* I have to thank Mr. Walter J. Fletcher, the County Surveyor, for much 

 valuable information in connection with the Wimborne Wells. 



