318 
III. 
THE NOTEWORTHY SPRINGS AND SPAS OF NORFOLK. 
By Horace B. Woodward, F.G.S. 
Read 2 ^th October^ i88i. 
As ono object of this Society is to record the various facts of natural 
interest in the County of Norfolk, it may not be inappropriate to 
draw attention to some of tire more remarkable springs and miireral 
waters. 
At the outset of such a study one might follow the plan carried 
out by our Secretary, hir. Bidwell, in his interesting paper on 
“Norfolk names derived from those of animals, birds, and plants,” 
and ascertain the names of places derived from particular springs. 
But a glance through the ■well-known work of the Rev. George 
hlunford, is sufficient to inform us that nothing of interest con- 
nected with noted springs can be gathered from a study of the 
names of our towns and villages. For although the terminal 
syllable well is met "with in a number of villages, as in Ashwell- 
thorpe, Bawdeswcll, Feltwell, Titchwell, &c. ; in no case, excepting 
that of the toAvn of Wells itself, is the word xoell connected with 
certainty with any spring or springs in the neighbourhood. In 
most instances the meaning of the word is uncertain ; for, as IMr. 
Munford* observes, there is much difficulty in deciding when it 
represents a well or spring on the ono hand, or a bank or rampart 
on the other. Nor will a study of the physical geography or 
geology of the parishes enable us to decide the question ; for springs 
are abundairt in Norfolk, and may always be looked for where the 
valleys are cut out of sand and gravel resting on clay, brickearth, 
or other impervious strata. Nevertheless an examination of the 
Ordnance Survey maps, and of the works of topographical and 
other writers on the county, acquaints us with the situation and 
* ‘Local Names in Norfolk,’ p. 41. 
