071 Subsidences in the Salt Districts of Cheshire. 137 



sizes, from Combormere, which is nearly a mile in length, to small 

 ponds, some of which — like that of Crewe Hall — have been 

 artificially extended by embanking. Besides Combermere, there 

 are Rosthernmere, near the northern margin of the Keuper maris, 

 Talton mere — mere lake — Tableymere Pickmere, Rudworthmere, 

 Flaxmere, Oakmere, Oultonmere, Crewe Hall mere, Doddington- 

 mere, and Ellesmere.* These all (or nearly all) are situated on 

 the New Red Marl formation, which is generally covered by sand, 

 gravel, and boulder clay. No similar group of little lakes is 

 to be found in any part of England beyond the mountainous 

 districts. 



As far as I am aware, no full investigation regarding the origin 

 of the Cheshire meres has ever been undertaken. Mr. Ormerod 

 is believed to have originally suggested, that they owe their 

 existence to the melting of the salt-rock. In 1869 I published 

 the following statement : — " There seems to be considerable force 

 in the view, originating, I believe, with Mr. Ormerod, that the 

 meres, or little lakes, of Cheshire may owe their origin to the 

 local subsidence of the ground, consequent on the abstraction of 

 rock-salt, at present or formerly existing under these spots, by 

 dissolving into brine, which is being constantly carried away by 

 drainage at intervals over the whole area of the New Red Marl."-f- 

 Of the mode in which such lakes may be formed we have evidence 

 in the cases of the subsidences at Northwich, at Martin Hall 

 near Winsford, at Crewe Hall, and at Combermere Abbey. This 

 last instance occurred about the year 1583. Leyland, in his 

 " Itinerary," relates that "part of a hill, with trees upon it, suddenly 

 sank down, and was covered by salt water, of which the Abbot 

 being informed, caused it to be wrought, but the proprietors of 

 the Wiches compounding with him, he left off working." He 

 adds, that this salt pool still continued in his time, but that no 

 care was taken of it. 



* Owing to the depth of the Drift over the country about Ellesmere, there is some 

 uncertainty regarding the formation underlying. 



+ " The Triassic and Permian Rocks of the Central Counties." Mem. Geol. Survey, 

 p. 101. Tn Mr. Ormerod's valuable paper on the "Salt Field of Cheshire." Quart. Jour. Geol 

 Soc, Vol. IV., in which he traces the range of the salt beds and the faults by which they 

 are dislocated. The view above stated of the origin of the meres is rather to be infened 

 than stated. 



