1848.1] ORMEROD ON THE SALT-FIELD OF CHESHIRE. 275 
That a dislocation must exist between this place and Winsford is 
shown by the fact that here pits are sunk to the depths of 177 feet and 
309 feet, or about 57 and 214 feet respectively below sea-level, without 
meeting with rock-salt, which at Winsford is found at a depth of from 
150 to 180 feet, or about from 90 to 120 feet below sea-level. That 
there is no connexion between this brine-fountain and the Winsford 
brine is also evident ; had such existed, the brine-springs there would 
also have risen to the same level. Such however is not the case ; the 
level to which the brine at Winsford rises is on the average about 
that of sea-level; those at Middlewich, as was before remarked, 
being about 120 and 100 feet above the sea-level. 
About one mile to the north-west of Middlewich, at the Flint Mill, 
brine was found, but has not been worked. Between this point and 
Leftwich, brine has not, I believe, been searched for, and no such 
springs rise to the surface. An old brine-pit was formerly worked 
about a mile to the south of this town, near Manor Hall; this pit 
was situate on the Wheelock, near the aqueduct, and was copious 
and shallow. The pit is now closed up. 
Between the old pit by Manor Hall and Weever Hall, lymg about 
a mile and three-quarters to the south-west of the former place, salt 
has not been sunk for, but its existence is shown by various sinkings 
of the soil which have taken place at Clive and Weever Hall. At the 
former place, about fifteen years since, a portion of a field sunk down 
during the course of a night from two to three feet. At Weever Hall 
a similar sinking has taken place. In this vicinity the land still con- 
tinues sinking, and the water now covers land which a few years since 
formed a field. 
The land continues to smk along the course of the river to near 
Winsford, forming large pools. Near Stock’s Stairs, about half a 
mile above Winsford, the sinking parts branch to the west and to 
the east of the river, leaving the banks firm. The bridge has not 
sunk. At Winsford the salt-works commence and continue by the 
side of the river to Newbridge, about a mile and three-quarters north- 
west of the town. The works along this part of the river appear 
firm, though the cracks are apparent on the hill-side on the west side 
of the river a little to the west of the town. 
The works at Winsford are mostly brine; the level to the brine- 
head is from 150 to 180 feet below the meadow-level, or about from 
90 to 120 feet below sea-level. The level at which the brine stands 
when the pits are not at work is about sea-level. When the pits are 
at work the level of the brine is lowered 45 feet. 
The rock-salt has been proved from Winsford to below Newbridge. 
In most cases the brine has penetrated the shafts, and the same are 
worked as brine-pits. The measures overlying the salt consist of red 
and blue marl with gypsum. The brine-head lies on the surface of 
the upper rock-salt. | 
The upper stratum is 120 feet in thickness; it is impure and not 
worked. Two flags of one yard in thickness respectively occur at the 
distances of four and a half and sixteen yards from the surface of this 
bed. In this point it differs from the upper bed at Northwich, which 
