248 Cc. PARKINSON ON THE DROITWICH 
14, The Droitwich Brine-sprines and SALIFEROUS Marts. 
By C. Parxtnson, Esq., F.G.S. (Read December 19, 1883.) 
Tue valley of Droitwich lies in the lowest part of a trough, the 
Upper Keuper Marls partly filling up a deep depression in the lower 
Trias and Permian rocks. The geographical direction of the valley 
is from N.E. to 8.W., taking a westward turn through the town of 
Droitwich itself. Itis in the Red Marls that brine-springs are met 
with—a source of considerable wealth to the surrounding population, 
but, on the other hand, the cause of great depreciation in the value 
of land and house property within the borough of Droitwich. 
As we pass through the town by the Birmingham and Bristol line 
of the Midland railway, a strange scene of dilapidation lies before 
us. Every chimney is out of the perpendicular; houses appear to 
be sinking in, and signs of active subsidence show themselves on 
every side; the very ground over which the line passes hardly seems 
safe from a sudden collapse. Standing in the churchyard of Dodder- 
hill*, an eminence nearly overlooking the town and valley, it is 
possible to trace the line of country which is so affected by the 
extraction of salt, the probable area of the brine-basin of this locality. 
From the evidence afforded by this subsidence, and from experimental 
borings, the width of this area does not exceed 300 yards, while 
the length, so far as has been ascertained, is about 6 miles—this 
length extending from Stoke, 43 miles N.E. of Droitwich, to a point 
not far beyond the town, 8.W. or W. This area represents the 
district productive of brine-springs or rock-salt in quantity or quality 
which may be worked at remunerative cost. The saliferous marl, 
however, passes in a line just missing Worcester; and on Defford » 
Common, 12 miles south-west of Droitwich, weak brine-springs haye 
been tapped. The same may be said of Bromyard, on the Hereford 
side of the county; all attempts have failed to extract the salt any- 
where west or south-west of Droitwich. In a N.E. direction, at 
Stoke works, the brine is even stronger than at Droitwich. 
That further mischief in the way of land-subsidence may be 
expected in Droitwich and some outlying farms &c. is evident from 
an examination of the centre of the town itself. In High Street, 
between the parish church and a point where the Worcester road 
joins the street, a deep depression occurs. Twenty years ago 
water ran down this street in exactly the opposite direction; and 
recent cracks in the Royal Hotel and other houses (in fact every 
one) show that a gradual subsidence still goes on ; the canal-level has 
sunk 4 feet 9 inches in the five years. Further than this, at a place 
below the last lock from the Stoke side there are 20 feet of mud 
on the original bed of the canal, showing a subsidence which has 
occurred chiefly within the last 15 years. I think that in this 
immediate vicinity considerable danger exists.of some extensive and 
* Both church and vicarage being in a most insecure position. 
