320 
pamphlets were ■written on the subject, and people flocked in 
numbers to be cured of every kind of complaint. 
fSTo -wonder then that ISTorfolk was not entirely free from their 
presence. At least two springs that attained some note were dis- 
covered in the county : one at Aylsham, and the other at Thetford. 
And Blomefield mentions that at Olton (or Oulton) near Aylsham, 
“ is a fine spring called the Spaw, being a strong Mineral, much 
frequented formerly, before the Spaw at Aylesham had gained its 
reputation.”* 
The memory of the Aylsham water, which was chalybeate, is still 
retained in the “Spa Farm” about a mile south of the town. 
Accounts of it have been published in the works of B. Allen (as 
early as 1G99), Dr. J, Elliot, and Blomefield. It was formerly 
frequented by individuals suffering from asthma and other chronic 
diseases; but even in 1829, it was remarked, that “the resort to 
this chalybeate is now but trifling.” t It issues from the Glacial 
sands at their junction with the Lower Glacial brickearth. 
The Spa at Thetford was probably the most important one in 
hforfolk : it was known and analyzed in the year 1746 by Matthew 
Manning, phj'sician; and many years later (1819) Mr. F. Accum 
published an analysis of the spring, which he spoke of as the 
Thetford chalybeate water, j; This was as follows : — 
Contents op One Gallon 
Carbonate of iron . 
• 
2 '75 grains. 
Muriate of magnesia 
. 
3-25 „ 
Muriate of lime 
. 
2'25 ,, 
Sulphate of magnesia 
. 
1-25 „ 
Muriate of soda 
• • 
2-125 „ 
Sulphate of lime 
3 
14-G25 „ 
Carbonic acid gas 
1207 
cubic inches. 
Oxygen 
1-21 
Atmospheric air 
8-04 
J) 
* ‘ Norfolk,’ vol. iii. (1769) p. 617. 
t Chambers, ‘ General History of Norfolk,’ vol. i. p. 179. 
t ‘ Guide to the Chalybeate Spring of Thetford ’ (12mo. London, 1819). 
