A HISTORY OF DERBYSHIRE 



Some of the caverns at Matlock Bath are well worth a visit, but it 

 is unnecessary to enter into any details concerning them, as they are com- 

 binations of watercourses and old lead mines. The so-called caverns on 

 the High Tor are roofless for the most part and are probably joints which 

 have been enlarged by the action of water. The fissure called the 

 Fern Cave runs north-north-west and is nearly parallel to the precipice 

 of the High Tor. It is about 600 feet long, 150 feet deep, and in 

 places reaches a width of 2 feet. It probably once extended further in 

 the direction of Matlock Bridge. The eastern wall of the fissure pro- 

 produced forms the face of the present cliff which bounds the valley of 

 the Derwent. 



The Roman Cavern is a smaller fissure which runs nearly parallel 

 to the strike and to the boundary between the limestone of the High 

 Tor and the shales and grits of Riber Hill. 



WARM SPRINGS 



Many parts of the limestone district are destitute of water because 

 of the readiness with which the surface waters make their way under- 

 ground. Springs on the limestone hills are only present where there are 

 beds of impervious rock as Clay and Toadstone. These springs issue 

 from the top of the Clay or Toadstone along its line of outcrop. Several 

 springs flow from the top of the bedded tuff near Grange Mill. Dunsley 

 Spring which runs down into the Via Gellia, several springs near Tadding- 

 ton, and that which supplies Tideswell with water flow from the upper 

 surface of Toadstone beds. 



Many of the springs are warm, or at least tepid. The most noted 

 are at Buxton, Matlock and Bakewell. The temperature at St. Ann's 

 Well at Buxton is 81 F. The water is remarkable for the amount 

 of free nitrogen dissolved in it. Another spring supplies the tepid 

 swimming bath. The temperature of the warm springs at Matlock 

 Bath is 68 F. They supply the Fountain Swmming Baths and smaller 

 baths at the New Bath and Royal Hotels. An analysis of the spring 

 at the Fountain Baths was made by Dr. Dupre. It contains 



Grains 

 per gallon 



Chloride of sodium 4'57 



Sulphate of magnesia 9-73 



Sulphate of calcium 2*04 



Carbonate of calcium I4'68 



Silica 071 



Total 3''73 



Organic matter, traces of alumina, minute traces of 



potassium, lithium and strontium and loss . . . 1-03 



Total dry residue 3276 



and a small quantity of free carbonic acid. The old swimming bath at 

 Bakewell is supplied at a temperature of about 60 F. 



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