273 THE ESSEX NATURALIST. 
The meeting then adjourned for the purpose of making a detailed in- 
spection of the interior and exterior of the building, under the guidance of 
Mr. C. Dawson. 
VISIT TO THE VANGE MINERAL WELLS (565TH 
MEETING). 
PALURDAY (12TH eMAY e1O22% 
A day of cold sweeping winds and thunder showers, but with many 
brilliant sunny intervals, did not deter a small but representative party of 
members from making a pilgrimage to Vange for the inspection of the 
mineral wells on the Vange Corner estate, the water from which has lately 
come into commercial prominence as being of medicinal virtue. Our mem- 
bers, Dr. John C. Thresh, M.D., D.Sc., and Mr. W. Whitaker, B.A., F.R.S., 
acted as expert conductors to the party. 
On arrival at Pitsea station at 10.36 o'clock, the parish church of St. 
Michael, picturesquely perched on an isolated, rounded hill of London Clay 
and surrounded by tall elms,was first visited : the church itselfis uninteresting, 
being of modern rebuilding except the square ragstone tower, but the extensive 
view from it over the surrounding country, and especially southwards over 
the marshland and Canvey Island to the Thames estuary and the Kentish 
hills, was much enjoyed. 
Proceeding to Vange church, which occupies a similar commanding hill- 
top site, the visitors were welcomed by the rector, the Rev. St. John Methuen, 
who read an account of the ancient fabric, which still retains some Norman 
features, including a square Purbeck marble font, and who exhibited the 
Registers, going back to 1558. 
At the Wells, which were reached soon after I o’clock, the owner, Mr. 
Edwin Cash, most hospitably welcomed the party to asandwich-lunch which 
he had thoughtfully provided. Dr. Thresh tested various samples of the 
water for solid constituents and gave some particulars of the water, He 
remarked that sulphated waters are common; the Vange water, however, 
contained in addition to the usual sulphate of lime (which frequently occurred 
in Essex waters), sulphates of magnesia, soda and potash which made it 
typical of the best class of sulphated waters, and rendered it beneficial as a 
mild aperient and also in having a mild effect upon the liver. 
Mr. Whitaker briefly described the geological conditions under which 
the Vange springs occurred. He referred to-the loamy Claygate Beds which 
capped the higher ground, through which rain sinks slowly, dissolving in its 
passage whatever salts may be present in the soil, until itis arrested or thrown 
out by the stiffer beds of the true London Clay beneath. 
Mr. Cash gave an account of his first discovery of this sulphated water, 
over twenty years ago, and ofits recent exploitation for commercial use. He 
said that his dream was to establish a poor man’s spa at Vange, his principal 
' object being the good of suffering humanity. 
An inspection of two of the six wells was then made by the visitors, and 
samples of the water were tasted : the taste was voted to be not unpleasant, 
the presence of soda being the most apparent characteristic to the palate and 
the water being quite limpid and colourless. The first well sunk was only 
