Cm] 
A Letter from Mr. Thomas Machel of Rirkbythore^ 
in Weftmorland to Sr. W, D. March 25, 1 684. 
concerning fome Antiquities found there. 
YOur love to Antiquity^ and my Obligations to you are 
fuch, that I cannot^ omit to give you an Account of a 
ftrange Well^ difcovefed here about a weekfince by the 'oot of 
an Horfe^- which ftumbled upon it i and therefore may be cal- 
led the Fountain Hypcrene, 
'Tisin the Street of Ktrkjythore by the Bridge-end, on the 
North fide of the KiverTrout-Beeck, the Antient Boundary 
'twixt the Lordfhip of Cr^f ^^72/i>orp (my Brothers Eftatej and 
this of Ktrkl^ythore ^ and is about ten yards diftant from it, 
in the common Road ; and as many yards diftant from the 
gxQ2it Roman Canfej^ which leads to C^rM, and goes bctwixt it, 
and a place called the Eunvms^ being part of the ^uines of 
Whelf'Cafile.^ on the Eaft fide of it : And 'tis very ftrange that 
a Well fhould be digged fo near to the Ri'ver^ unlefs perhaps 
the CaHle-walls have gone betwixt them, and the way xun 
through it ; as at Maide??-^:aflle, on the top of Stammore, 
It hath been covered with a Plank of wood about nine inch- 
es thick, in the falhion of a Potlid : but decayed and macerated 
to the colour and confiftance of a Fu-t or Tkrfe ; infomuch, 
that I could hardly conjecture what wood it was made of; but 
I fuppofe Oake. And above this was gravel and pavement about 
a yard thick, which (being tendered by the late great FroB and 
fweiling of the Spring) eafily gave way to the Horfesfoot. 
Inftead of IValls^ were two large wooden V ?J]eU, one upon a- 
noth.CVy\\h.Q Hog fa ads ^ or Wine-fi^^e.^ y^ix\\ Bung- holes in them, a- 
bout three inches Diameter : and the plowings for the heads 
were fair to be feen. They were made of > w (whencefoe- 
ver they came ) above an inch thick ; each of them in 
depth, by ^ Perpendicular^ 6 foot at the leaft , at the Headi^ in 
circumference no lefs then 8 foot, being in Dumeter 2 foot 
and 8 inches : and in the middle r o foot and 4 inches, being 
in Diameter no lefs then 3 foot y inches and 3. The wood was 
found, but withal very fpongy by reafon of the water. 
At the bottom about 5" yards deep, were 4 Planks of wood 
laid quadrangtiUr wife, fupported with a ftone at every Cor- 
ner , to bear up the 'Fahnc , and let in water through the 
graveJ 
