Charles Daivson — Ancient and Modern " Dene Holes." 299 



described by Dr. Blackmore and Mr. E. T. Stevens,^ at Higbfield, 

 near Salisbury,'- namely : — 



''The pit from the surface to tbe chalk is kept from falling iu 

 by a kind of basket-work made with hazel, or willow rods and 

 brushwood, cut green, and manufactured with the small boughs 

 and leaves remaining thereon to make the basket-work closer. 

 The earth and chalk are raised from the pit by a ' Jack rowl ' on 

 a frame, generally of very simple and rude construction. To one 

 end of the rowl is fixed a cart-wheel which answers the double 

 purpose of a fly and a stop ; an inch rope of sufficient length is 

 vp'ound round the rowl, to one end of which is affixed a weight 

 which nearly counterbalances the empty bucket fastened to the 

 other end. This apology for an axis in peritrochio, two wheel- 

 barrows, a spade, a shovel, and a pickaxe are all the necessary 

 implements in the trade of a company of chalk-diggers, generally 

 three in number. The pitman digs the chalk and fills the basket, 

 and his companions alternately wind it up and wheel its contents 

 upon the land. When the basket is wound up to the top of the pit, 

 to stop its descent till emptied, the point of a wooden peg of 

 sufficient length and strength is thrust by the perpendicular spoke 

 in the wheel into a hole made in the adjoining upright or standard 

 of the frame to receive it, 



"The pit is sunk from twenty to thirty feet deep and then 

 chambered at the bottom, that is, the pitman digs or cuts out the 

 chalk horizontally in three separate directions, the horizontal 

 apertures being of a sufficient height and width to admit of the 

 pitman working in them with ease and safety." 



The comparatively small expense of carrying out this mode of 

 chalking is given by the same writer. 



" One pit will chalk six acres, laying sixty loads on an acre. 

 If more be laid on, and to the full extent of chalking, viz. 100 

 loads, then a proportionate less extent of land than six acres is 

 chalked from one pit. Eighteen barrowfuls make a load, and the 

 usual price for chalking is 7d. per load, all expenses included, 

 therefore the expense of chalking at sixty loads per acre is £1 15s., 

 and at 100 ditto £2 18s. 4d 



" As the chalk is considered to be better the deeper it lies, and 

 the top chalk, particulaidy if it lies within three or four feet of the 

 surface, very indifferent, and only fit for lime or to be laid on 

 the roads, gateways,, etc., the chalkers must be directed to layby 

 the chalk for the first three or four feet in depth, to be applied 

 to the above purpose. If it be not wanted for those uses it is again 

 thrown into the pit. When filled up, Mr. Walker also observes 

 that the flints must be picked out from the chalk before it is carried 

 on to the land, for if the pit-makers are not narrowly watched 

 they will chalk with both." ^ 



1 See Report on the Blackmore Museum, pt. ii, p. 152. 



2 The interior of these dwellings as described are perfectly distinct in form from 

 the so-called " dene holes." 



^ The flints are sometimes found squared, and are used to line the mouth of the 

 well. In the two Brighton ones the upper or bad chalk had been similarly used. 



