Journal of Proceedings. 
XXXYll 
of the two remaining chambers from the surface was about 71 feet, the 
height of the chambers about 11 or 12 feet, and the extreme length from 
the base of the shaft about 10 feet. At one time this “ dene ” had been 
in all probability much more perfect and extensive, but as many of the 
chambers (supposing others existed) were blocked up, and the place 
appearing dangerous owing to the tendency of the thin roof of chalk to 
give way, the scene of operation was changed to another pit, a little 
further on, on the same side of the woodland path. 
To quote Mr. Walker’s description, this pit (Xo. 2, of small plan on 
Plate II.) was “of a decidedly romantic and suggestive exterior. It was 
well protected by overhanging trees and a shroud of honeysuckle; indeed 
it was so well concealed as to give a vivid idea of the times when such 
natural screens were of vast importance to the owners or occupants. Our 
men were soon at work with their bill-hooks, the platform and winding- 
gear were again erected, and the descent safely effected. Again foot-holes 
were found on the sides of the shaft, and again at the base we landed 
upon a huge heap of rubbish, the accumulation of untold years. Pro¬ 
ceeding cautiously with our lanterns, and planting a lighted candle every 
few yards, we soon found that we were in a typical Dene-hole, in an 
excellent state of preservation.” 
A section and ground-plan of this Xo. 2 pit are given on Plate II., from 
drawings and measurements of our conductor, Mr. Holmes. On descend¬ 
ing the pit the roof of chalk was reached at 60 feet; the roof was much 
more substantial than that of No. 1 pit, being at least 6 feet in thickness, 
and in consequence it was intact, except in one chamber, where a slight 
fall had taken place. The extreme depth of the shaft was 80 feet, giving 
access to five large chambers, averaging 15 feet in height, varying from 
30 to 40 feet in length, and from 10 to 12 feet in width. In the chamber 
where the roof had partially fallen in, a small accessory chamber, only 
to be entered by crawling through the opening on one’s hands and knees, 
had been excavated near one end; this our experts thought might be of 
later date, and not necessarily designed by the original architects of the 
pit, who appear to have had correct notions of sy mm etry and piopoition. 
The purity and comparative freshness of the atmosphere of the chambeis 
struck many with surprise. There was no indication of the piesence of 
the deadly “ choke-damp, carbon dioxide, so co mm only found in the 
stagnant air of old wells and pits. Of course it was to be expected that 
quantities of the gas would be set free in the decomposition of the 
vegetable refuse fallen into the pit, but some of our chemical visitors 
suggested that the damp chalk might itself absorb the gas as fast as set 
free, forming a double carbonate of calcium (CaH 2 (C 03 )- 2 ), such as is 
supposed to be produced when carbon dioxide gas is passed in excess into 
lime-water. 
The chalk was in most parts as white as snow, and the innumerable 
marks of the picks (metal ?) were as sharp as if just made. Many small 
blocks of chalk had fallen from the roof, but in some places the original 
