SPRINGS MEDICINALL : CRUDWELL, LACOCK, &C. 23 



much good to the drinkers, and the inhabitants thereabout.* This discovery was this year (1685), 

 about seventy-five years since, and 'tis pitty it should be buried in oblivion. My Lord Keeper 

 North told me of this himselfe. 



When the springs doe breake in Morecombe-bottom, in the north side of the parish of Broad 

 Chalke, which is seldome, 'tis observed that it foretells a deer yeare for corne. It hath dis- 

 continued these forty yeares. 



At Crudwell, neer to the mannour house, is a fine spring in the street called Eery-well. Labourers 

 say it quenches thirst better than the other waters ; as to my tast, it seemed to have aliquantulum 

 aciditatis ; and perhaps is vitriolate. The towne, a mannour of the Lord Lucas, hath its denomina- 

 tion from this well ; perhaps it is called Crudwell from its turning of milke into cruds. 



At Wotton Basset, in the parke, is a petrifying water, which petrifies very quickly. 



At Huntsmill, in this parish, is a well where the water turnes leaves, &c. of a red colour. 



Below the Devises, the water in all the ditches, at the fall of the leafe, lookes blewish, which I 

 could not but take notice of when I was a sclioole boy. 



In the parish of Lydyard-Tregoz is a well called by the country people Antedocks-well (perhaps 

 here was the cell of some anchorete or hermite) ; the water whereof they say was famous heretofore 

 in the old time for working miracles and curing many diseases. 



As I rode from Bristoll to Welles downe Dundery-hill, in the moneth of June, 1663, walking down 

 the hill on foot, presently after a fine shower I sawe a little thinne mist arise out of the ditch on the 

 right hand by the highwayes side. But when I came neer to the place I could not discern it : so I 

 went back a convenient distance and saw it again ; and then tooke notice of some flower or weed 

 that grew in the ditch whence the vapour came. I came againe to the marke, and could see nothing 

 of a mist, as before ; but my nose was affected with a smell which I knew ; but immediately it came 

 not to my mind ; which was the smell of the canales that come from the bathes at Bath. By this 

 tune my groom was come to me, who, though of a dull understanding, his senses were very quick ; 

 I asked him if he smelt nothing, and after a sniff or two, he answered me, he smelt the smell of the 

 Bath. This place is about two parts of three of the descent of Dundery-hill. 



I doe believe the water of the fountaine that serves Lacock abbey is impregnated with <$ [iron]. 

 That at Crokerton, near Warminster, I thinke not at all inferior to those of Colbec in France. 

 The best felt hatts are made at both places. 



At or near Lavington is a good salt spring. (From ye Earl of Abingdon.) 



The North Wilts horses, and other stranger horses, when they come to drinke of the water ot 



* At Tunbridge and Epsom Wells, where were only wild commons, now are abundance of well-built houses. [The changes and 

 improvements at Tunbridge Wells have been very great since Aubrey wrote. In 1832 I wrote and published an octavo volume 

 ' ' Descriptive Sketches of Tunbridge Wells and the Calverley Estate," with maps and prints. Since that time the railroad has 

 been opened to that place, which will increase its popularity. Epsom Wells are now deserted. At Melksham, in the vicinity of 

 Seend, a pump-room, baths, and lodging-houses were erected about twenty-five years ago ; but fashion has not favoured the place 

 with her sanction. See Beauties of Wiltshire, vol. iii. J. B.] 



