1546^
U(.iOAL SURVEY
ENGLAND AND WALES.
THE
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE
FROM CSDERGRODKI) SOOROIS,
BY
. J. ][. BLAKE, F.G.S., Assoc. M. Inst. C.E.
11 V
WILLIAM W HITAKEK, B.A., F.R.S.,
PUBLISHEl'
K LORDS COMMISSIONERS OP HIS MAJESTY S TREASURT,
LONDON:
"printed for his MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE,
BY WYMAN AND SONS, LIMITED, FETTER LANE, E.G.
And to be purchased from
E. STANFORD, 12, 13, AND 14, Long Acre, London ;
JOHN MENZIES and CO., Rose Street, Edinburgh ;
HODGES, FIGGIS, AND CO., 104, Grafton Street, Dublin ;
From any Agent for the sale of Ordnance Survey Map.s ; or through any
Bookseller from the Ordnance Survey Office, Southampton.
1902.
Price Three Sh'^^^
V
MEMOIRS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
ENGLAND AND WALES.
THE
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE
FROM BNDERGRODND SOURCES.
BY
The late J. H. BLAKE, F.G.S., Assoc. M. Inst. C.E.
WITH CONTRIBUTIONS BY
WILLIAM WHITAKER, B.A., F.R.S.,
PUBLISHED BY ORDBR OF THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS OP HIS MAJESTY'S TRKASORT.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE,
BY WVMAN AND SONS, LIMITED, FETTER LANE, E.G.
And to be purchased from
E. STANFORD, 12, 13, and 14, Long Acre, London;
JOHN MENZIES and CO., Rose Street, Edinburgh;
HODCIES, FIGGIS, AND CO., 104, Grafton Street, Duf.lin ;
From any Agent for the sale of Ordnance Survey IMaps ; or throngh any
Bookseller from the Ordnance Survey Office, Southampton.
1902.
Price Three Shillings.
^f 75 5
Ill
PREFACE.
This is the second instalment of a series of Memoirs on county water
supplies; the first instalment, relating to the Water Supply of Sussex,
having been published in 1899. The object of the work is to gather together
all the records of wells and borings, both published and unpublished, so
as to furnish data which will be of gi*eat service to future seekers after
water and which would not otherwise be available.
We are indebted for many of these records to well-sinkers who have
gladly communicated them in return for advice and information always
freely given at this office.
The revision of the first proofs of this Memoir was accomplished by Mr.
Blake in the early part of this year, not very long before we had to lament
his sudden death on AFarch ath. To Mr. W. ^Vhitaker wc arc particularly
indebted for help which he has rendered during the preimration of the
Memoir.
J. J. H. Teall, Director.
Geological Survey Office,
28, Jermyn Street, London.
29th July, 1901.
325148
38^3. Wt. 7764. 500.— 1/02. Wy. & S.
IV
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Preface by the Director iii
Introduction : Outline of the Geology as far as relates to Water
Water Supply ; Annual Bainfall of Berkshire ; List of Geological
Survey Works on Berkshire 1
Well Sections in Berkshire 17
Analyses of Waters 106
Index 114
THE WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE
FEOM UNDEKGEOUND SOURCES.
INTRODUCTION.
The quantity of water to be obtained from underground
sources in any locality depends upon the hydro-geological
structure of the district, and its quality upon the chemical
character of the material or strata through which it has per-
colated. Deep well waters " are almost always bright, sparkling,
palatable, and wholesome; whilst their uniformity of tem-
perature throughout the year renders them cool and refreshing
m summer, and prevents them from freezing readily in winter.
Such waters are of inestimable value to communities, and their
conservation and utilization are worthy of the greatest eftbrts of
those who have the public health under their charge." *
In the constructfon of both deep and shallow wells, the
greatest care should always be taken to shut out all surface
water, in order that the underground supply should not be con-
taminated therewith. The site for a well, also, should be as far
away as practicable from any possible source of pollution.
When a village, or other community, is dependent for its
water supply upon wells sunk into a porous formation overlying
an impervious one, such as Upper Greensand overlying Gault, or
Lower Bagshot Sand overlying London Clay, or \ alley Gravels
resting upon different clay-iormations ; then, too much attention
cannot be paid to drainage, by making all drains and cesspools
water-tight ; in order that nothing deleterious should be permitted
to soak through and pollute the water in the wells. Inasmuch as
the well is usually deeper than the cesspool, and often ^\ithin
a few feet of it, the former is almost certiun to drain the latter
unless it is cemented and made water-tight. This abominable
state of affairs has been, and is still, a very common occurrence
in many districts. "Unfortunately, excrementitious liquids,
especially after they have soaked through a few feet of porous
soil, do not impair the palatability of water ; and this polluted
liquid is consumed from year to year without a suspicion of its
character, until the cesspool and the well receive infected sewage,
and then an outbreak of epidemic disease compels attention to
the polluted water." f
Outline of the Geology as far as relates to
Water-Supply.
The greater portion of Berkshire is situated in the western
part of the London Basin, and its south-western boundary is
close to the apex of the triangular mass of Tertiary forma lions
* Rivers Pollution Commission. Sixth Report, 1874, p. 425.
>, M » ,, . M „ pp. 68, 69.
8813. A
2 >TATER SOTPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
lying in the trough. The general dip or inclination of the various
strata is more or less in a south-easterly direction, excepting
in a very small area round Shalbourn in the south-western corner
of the county. The underground water, in the different Avater-
bearing beds, flows in the same direction as the dip. The
average inclination of the strata across the county in a south-
south-easterly direction, along a line extending from Abingdon to
Aldermaston wharf and south of the river Kennet, is a little less
than three-quarters of a degree; and in an easterly -direction
from Newbury to Wokingham the average dip is about one-
quarter of a degree, and from Wokingham to Ascot less than
one-eighth.
The geological formations that appear at the surface in the
county, togetlier with their water-bearing capacities, etc., are as
follows : —
Systems.
Geological Formations.
fSupply and character of the
Water in Berkshire.
Eecent
Pleistocene
Eocene
Upper
Cretaceous.
Lower
Cretaceous.
Upper
Jurassic.
Alluvium -
Valley Loam
Valley Gravel
Plateau Gravel -
Pebble Gravel -
Clay-with-Hints, Loam,
and Tertiary Debris
(overlying Chalk).
Upper Bagsliot Beds -
Bracklesham Beds
Lower Bagsliot Beds -
London Clay
Reading Beds -
Upper Clialk -
Middle Chalk -
Lower Chalk
Upper Greensand
Gault
Lower Greensand
Portland Beds -
Kimeridge Clay-
Corallian Beds -
Oxford Clay -
Variable, often bad, liable to pollu-
tion.
None.
Abundant and of good (piality in
places, but very liable to pollu-
tion.
►Small supplies of very variable
character, liable to surface-con-
tamination.
Very little.
Usually none, but a little in places.
Small supply, soft, of good quality.
Variable, but generally bad.
Very soft, of excellent quality, but
sometimes ferruginous.
Small supply, variable in character,
from its " basement-bed " only.
Good supply, often soft, from the
sands of this formation.
{Abundant supply of most whole-
some water, but hard from car-
bonate of lime ; temporary hard-
ness.
Abundant, excellent, but sometimes
hard from carbonate of lime.
None.
Variable in quantity, soft, good,
but sometimes saline or ferru-
ginous.
Small supply, hard from carbonate
of lime.
None.
Supply and quality good, but
variable.
None.
tNTRObUCTION.
Jurassic Rocks.
The Lower Lias is the oldest geological formation that has
been reached by boring in the county of Berkshire. This was in
1829, at Wytham, near Oxford, when a boring having passed
through 15 feet of loam<and sand, and 258 feet of Oxford Clay
and Kellaways Rock (Upper Jurassic), penetrated the following
formations (as classified by Mr. H. B. Woodward) and which do
not appear at the surface anywhere in the county, viz. : —
Feet.
/ Cornbrash - - - - - - 19
Tvr.-,-,, T • ) Forest Marble ----- 24i
Middle Jurassic (.^^^^ Q^li^^ . ..... g^^
I Inferior Oolite - - - - - 35|
rUpper Lias - . . - - 14^
Lower Jurassic -'. Middle Liasl _ _ - 170i
I Lower Lias j- - - - -
For full details of this boring see p. 103. No mention is given
in the original account, published by John Phillips in 1871,* of
the occurrence of water in any of the beds, excepting in the
sand (12 feet from the surface) overlying the Oxford Clay.
In a boring made to a depth of 439 i feet by Messrs. Le Grand
& Sutcliff at the City Brewery, Oxford, in 1898 (the site being
only about a quarter of a mile outside the Berkshire county-
boundary, and a little more than two miles and a quarter from
the site of the boring at Wytham), the following geological forma-
tions were penetrated : —
Feet.
Pleistocene - Valley Gravel, &c. 30
Upper Jurassic - Oxford Clay ----- 210
r Cornbrash - - - - - - 17
Forest Marble ----- 32t
^liddle Jurassic -| Great Oolite - - - - - - 88
Upper Estuarine Series - - . - 28i
llnferior Oolite - - . - - 16i
Lower Jurassic - Lower Lias - - - - - 17
It was anticipated that an ample supply of water would have
been obtained from the Great Oolite formation; but, Avith the
exception of a large quantity of water in the Valley Gravel over-
lying the Oxford Clay, only a very little water was met with —
quite insufficient for brewery purposes — here and there in sandy
seams etc., in the underlying formations, but which rose to within
three feet of the surface of the ground. On undoubted Lower
Lias being reached the boring was abandoned.
Oxford Clay.
This formation, which consists of gi'ey and bluish-grey clay,
shalv, calcareous, pyritous, and carbonaceous in places, with
banis of septaria, &.Q,., is the oldest that appears at the surface in
the county, and occurs in the most northern part of it, on the
south of the Thames between Buscot (S. of Lechlade) and Wytham,
* Geology of Oxford and the Valley of the Thames, pp. 296, 297.
4 Water supply of Berkshire.
near Oxford. The boring at Wytham penetrated 258 feet in
thickness of this clay; that at St. Clement's Brewery, Oxford,
265 feet;* and that at the City Brewery, Oxford, 210 feet; these
two latter being only a short distance outside the county. These
figures, however, do not represent the total thickness of the
Oxford Clay ; which is stated to be much thicker in the north-
western part of the county, near Lechlade.j
No supply of water can be expected to be obtained from this
impermeable argillaceous formation.
Corallian Beds.
These beds, in places between 70 and 80 feet in total thickness,
come to the surface in the north-western part of the county,
forming a tract of country extending from Coleshill, Avest of
Farringdon, to near Oxford. The upper division of these
Corallian Beds — much less in thickness than the lower — consists
of oolitic limestone (sometimes pisolitic) and rubbly coral-rock
with marl, known as " Coral Rag ; " and the lower — essentially an
arenaceous deposit — of loose sand with bands of sandstone,
calcareous and cherty in places.
Good supplies of water are frequently to be obtained from
these beds, but the amount varies considerably in different
localities, due apparently to interruptions in the circulation of
the water, from the presence of clay-seams, joints filled with clay,
faults, &c. Sometimes water is met with in the upper part of
the formation, held up by seams ot clay, or beds of intensely
hard chert &c. ; but the largest quantity is usually to be found
lower down, held up by the underlying Oxford Clay.
Kimeridge Clay.
The Kimeridge Clay is exposed at the surface to the south of
the Corallian Beds, and stretches from south-west of Shriven-
ham to beyond Abingdon, and then northward by Wootton and
Bagley Wood to Chawley brickyard. It is apparently 140 feet
thick at Bench worth, 111 at Goosey, 94 at Wantage, and less at
Chawley.
It consists of bluish-grey and blackish clay and shale, with
septaria, carbonaceous matter, pyrites, and selenite in places.
This clay-formation being impervious to water, no supply can
be expected from it.
Portland Beds.
The Portland Beds, which intervene in some localities in
Oxfordshire and other counties, are unrepresented in Berkshire ;
except at the village of Bourton, south of Shrivenham Station,
^ This boring was continued to a depth of 400 feet when salt water was
obtained.
+ See H. B. Woodward, Mem. Geol. Survey ; Jurassic Rocks of Britain,
vol. V, p. 40.
tNTRODUCTION. 5
where a small outlier of Portland Beds occurs. Here limestones
and sands, perhaps 10 feet or more thick, have been observed.
Lower Greensand,
This formation occurs at the surface in an irregular manner in
the north-western part of the county, where it rests upon the
Kimeridge Clay.
Several small patches of Lower Greensand appear to the
south of Shrivenham ; an outlier occurs at Farringdon Clump,
and another at Badbury Hill, and a large irregular mass of it
extends from near Farringdon by Little Coxwell, Furze Hill,
Femham, Alfred's Hill, to near Uffington and Balking. In the
direction of Oxford, and 12 miles distant from Farringdon, there
is a large outlier at Boar's Hill, and small outliers at Hurst Hill,
and north-east of Sunningwell. The beds here consist of brown
yellow, and chocolate-coloured coarse siliceous loose sand, but
ferruginous and indurated in places. In the Farringdon district,
the lower portion of the formation consists of fossiliferous grave),
known as " the sponge-gravels," made up of pebbles of quartz,
lydian-stone, well-preserved fossil sponges, &c. ; loose in some
])laces, but cemented together in others, forming a ferruginous
quartzose conglomerate, 2o to 40 feet or more in thickness. The
upper portion consists of brown, yellow, white, and chocolate-
coloured siliceous loose sand, with grey and brown clay and loam
in places, and ironstone bands.
Thus, the Lower Greensand in Berkshire occurs in several
isolated patches of variable dimensions and thickness, and often
at a considerable elevation above the surrounding district. On
account of these physical and geological conditions, and although
the loose or incoherent sands readily absorb a considerable pro-
portion of the rainfall, a large quantity of the water escapes as
springs, on the sloping ground, at the junction of the Lower
Greensand with the underlying Kimeridge Clay ; where the rain-
water which had percolated through the sands would be held up,
juid would accumulate, the quantity varying according to seasonal
changes. Consequently where the area exposed to the rain-
fall is small, the supply 'would become very hmited, particularly
after a dry season, when it might fail altogether. A larger
supply — sufficient probably for local purposes, and of good
quality, would be maintained where the area exposed to the
rainfall is large, and the siliceous sands coarse and loose. When
ironstone occurs in the sands the water might be slightly
chalybeate, but not unwholesome, unless when very strongly
impregnated. At Didcot the water was saline, and also at
Shillingford (close to the county-boundary) in Oxfordshire.
At New Lodge, Windsor Forest, in the parish of Winkfield,*
a deep boring reached the Lower Greensand at a depth of
1,234 feet, and penetrated it to a depth of 9 feet. It consisted of
fine, sharp, light-brown sand, with water which rose to 7 feet
8 inches above the surface of the ground.
At Wantage,t a boring having penetrated 46 feet of Upper
Greensand, and 233 feet of Gault, passed into Kimeridge Clay,
* See p. 95. t See p. 89.
6 SVATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Lower Greensand bein^ absent ; thus showing an interruption in
the continuity of the Lower Greensand underground, at a depth
of 280 feet from the surface.
Unhke the Lower Greensand, the Gault outcrops ni a regular
manner, and extends in an unbroken band from near Ashbury
to the Thames at Little Wittenham. In this north-western
part of the county, the Wantage Brewery Go's, boring proved the
thickness of this formation to be 233 feet, whereas, the Wink-
field-boring (Windsor Forest), in the eastern part of the county,
proved the thickness there to be 264 feet, — the base of the
Gault being at a depth of 1,234 feet from the surface of the
ground. From these, and other known facts as to the occurrence
of this formation in adjoining counties, there is every proba-
bility that from its outcrop at the surface mentioned above, it
continues southwards and eastwards underground of great thick-
ness beneath the remainder of the county of Berkshire.
It consists of dark bluish and gi'ey clay, micaceous shales, with
a few bands and nodules of argillaceous ironstone, phosphatic
nodules, pyrites, eS:c.
No water can be obtained from this impermeable clay
formation.
Upper Greensand.^
South of the area occupied by the Gault, the Upper Greensand
conformably appears at the surface as a narrow irregular belt
extending from Ids tone by Ashbury to Kingston Lisle, from
whence it increases in Avidth in an easterly direction, in a variable
manner, by Wantage, Milton Hill, and Didcot, to Wallingford.
The upper portion of the formation, varying from 10 to 30 feet
or more in thickness, consists of dark green sands containing
numerous small grains of glauconite ; and the lower portion
about 50 to 60 feet or more in thickness, consists of whitish
calcareo-siliceous strata, marly in pLices, and containing some
layers of malmstone and hard beds of chert.
There is an abundant supply of excellent water in this perme-
able formation, Avhere the area exposed to the rainfall is large,
but a considerable quantity of it escapes as springs at its
junction with the Gault, and sometimes higher up ; (in a some-
what similar manner to that of the Lower Greensand) owing to
the elevated position in the Upper Greensand, in projecting
terraces or spurs, &c., above the plain of the Gault. These
terraces consist of the lower portion of the formation, malmstone,
(fee, the green sands having been denuded; but these latter
appear near the base of the Lower Chalk, from beneath which
they outcrop. On account of the calcareous matter (carbonate
of lime) in the strata, the water in some localities is a little hard
but becomes very soft by boiling.
The Upper Greensand, in a similar manner to the underl}'ing
Gault, is probably continuous under Berkshire. It rises up to
* See also Memoir on Cretaceous Rocks of Britain, Vol. I. By A, J.
J ykes -Browne. 1900.
IXTRODTTCTION. 7
the surface from beneath the London Basin in the south-western
corner of the county, where a narrow Httle tract of the county
projects in a southerly direction across the " Shalbourn InUer "
of Upper Greensand ; which inlier is an anticHnal axis or arch,
from which the Chalk has been denuded ; and a continuation of
the anticlinal curve of the Vale of Pewsey. This inlier of Up]:>er
Greensand consists of greyish and yellowish-brown sand with
iL^lauconitc grains, and with layers of irregular blocks of hard grit.
The thickness is uncertain, but probably over 45 feet, there being
a Avell of that depth in it.
At the AVinkfield-boring (Windsor Forest), the total thickness
of the Upper Greensand was not more than 31 feet, .its base
being 970 feet beneath the surface.
Ckdk
The total thiclviiess of the Chalk formation (Upper, Middle,
and Lower, as now classified) luiderground in the eastern part of
Berkshire, was proved by the decjj boring at Winktield (New
Forest) to be 725 feet ; the base being reached at a depth of 039
feet from the surface. In the north-westeiii part of the county,
the base of this formation reaches the surface, south of
A\\antage, &c. ; along the lower part of the great chalk escarp-
ment, which is a continuation of that of the Chiltern Hills; and,
in a similar manner to that, consists of the Lower Chalk, Middle
Chalk, and the lower part of the Upper Chalk. The beds have
a slight southerly and south-easterly dij), and disappear beneath
the covering of Tertiary formations in tlie southern and eastern
part of the county ; but abruptly rise to the surface in the
south-western corner, around the Shalbourn inlier of Upper
Greensand.
Loiver Chalk. — This division, underground at Winkfield
(Windsor Forest), was proved to be 219 feet in thickness; and
in the western part of the county may be a little less. Where it
appears at the surface it forms a narrow irregular tract extend-
ing along the great escarpment from Idstonc, where it is half-a-
mile in width, to the south of Childrey and Wantage, where it
varies from one mile and a half to two miles ; and thence to
Cholsey and Moulsford, where it is two miles and a half wide.
There are outliers to the north at the Sinodun Hills and at
Cholsey Hill. In the south-western corner of the county it
appears as a narrow strip around the Shalbourn inlier of Upper
Greensand.
The Lower Chalk consists of interbedded white and grey chalk,
marly and gritty in places, and Chalk Marl with glauconitic marl
(Chloritic Marl) at its base. Beds of marly rock, possibly the
ef|uivalent of the Totternhoc stone, occiu* in the upper part of the
Chalk Marl, from which springs emanate along the lower part of
the escarpment, at Latcombe Basset ; Manor Farm, south of
Wantage ; East Lockinge ; East Ginge, south of West Hendred,
etc. These springs, which are of considerable volume, form
streams which unite with others from springs in the Upper
8 WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Greensand, and after working various mills along their course,
become important feeders to the Thames, which they join at
Abingdon and Sutton Courtenay.
Middle Chalk — The Middle Chalk appears at the surface over
a considerable area westward of the Lambourn Downs, and in
the valleys north and west of Lambourn, and outcrops as a
narrow belt along the escarpment south of Letcombe Basset to
the Chilton Downs, where it increases considerably in width and
continues in a very irregular manner to near Moulsford, and
from there south in the 1 names Valley by Streatley and Basildon
to Pangbourne. In the south-western corner of the county it
appears as a very narrow belt around the Shalbourn Inlier of
Upper Greensand.
Its thickness underground at Winkfield (Windsor Forest) is
177 feet, and its base occurs at 720 feet from the surface of the
ground. It is apparently but little less in thickness in the
western part of the county.
It consists of soft and hard rubbly and bedded white chalk,
with a few occasional nodules of flint, and tabular flint in places,
with seams of grey marl, etc., its uppermost bed being the
" Chalk Rock," — a cream-coloured limestone with glauconitic
grains and numerous green-coated nodules, and its undermost,
the "Melbourn Rock" or its equivalent, consisting of beds of
hard nodular limestone, etc.
Upper Chcdh — In the western part of Berkshire there are three
outliers of Upper Chalk; namely, at Kingston Down, White-
horse Hill, near Wantage, and to the north of Lambourn. The
western extremity of the great mass of continuous Upper Chalk
is at Sparsholt Down, the boundary extending southward by
Lambourn Downs to a little south of Lambourn, then westward
beyond the codnty. The south-western boundary is a little
south of Inkpen and West Woodhay, around the greater portion
of the Shalbourn inlier of Upper Greensand. The northern
boundary extends from Sparsholt Down along the upper part of
the escarpment a little north of the " Ridge Way " or " Icknield
Way " to the east of East Ilsley, then north to Churn Hill, and
south-easterly with spurs to Streatley and Pangbourn. From
here the Upper Chalk is continuous both easterly and southerly
throughout the remainder of the county ; but it is for the most
part covered by Tertiary formations, capped in many places with
Drift-deposits. It is exposed, however, at the surface over a
considerable area south of the Thames, and around the Tertiary
outlier at Bowsey Hill, between Wargrave and Maidenhead.
The thickness of the Upper Chalk at Winkfield (Windsor
Forest) was proved to be 329 feet, its base being there at a depth
of 543 feet from the surface of the ground. At Kingwood
House, one mile and a half south-west of Lambourn, a thickness
of 237 feet of Upper Chalk underlying 10 feet of Clay-with-flints,
Avas proved by a dug-well, the " Chalk Rock," with its character-
istic green-coated nodules, occurring there at a depth of 247 feet.
INTRODUCTION. 9
The Upper Chalk consists of soft white chalk, more or less
evenly beaded, with numerous irregular-shaped nodules of flint
along the planes of bedding, and sometimes m the matrix of the
chalk between. Thin seams of tabular flint occasionally occur
along the planes of bedding, and sometimes fill fissures or joints
inclined at various angles.
Water in the Chalk. — For general purposes of water-supply,
the chalk may usually be considered as one great permeable and
water-bearing formation, inasmuch as the rain that falls upon its
surface is readily absorbed, and percolates through its mass,
irrespective of its tripartite divisions for the most part, and
accumulates at its base as a huge underground reservoir of
saturated chalk. The depth to which it is necessary to dig or
bore to obtain a supply of water entirely depends upon the
physical and geological structure of the district, and these being
Known the requisite depth can be calculated with great accuracy.
When a well or boring is made in the Chalk where it is exposed
at the surface, or merely covered with Drift-deposits, the level of
the Avater in the well or bore-hole will be at tlie same level as
the plane of saturation, and vary with it according to seasonal
changes. But, when a boring or well is made through Tertiary
formations into the underlying Chalk in the London Basin, the
water being under hydrostatic pressure Avill rise in the bore-hole
or well to nearly the same level as to where it entered the Chalk
at its outcrop, and the level of the water will vary but slightly if
at all.
Locally this great underground storage-reservoir of the London
Basin may for practical purposes bo considered inexhaustible,
for it is replenished from extensive collecting areas of con-
tinuous and outcropping Chalk exposed to the rainfall.
Moreover, in extracting the water, which is always charged with
carbonate of lime in solution, etc., the porosity, channels, fissures,
crevices, and cavities in the Chalk become enlarged, and conse-
quently its storage-capacity proportionately augmented, and the
supply increased with the age of the well or boring.
The Commissioners appointed to incjuire into the Pollution of
Rivers, etc., report on the quality ot this underground water,
as follows : —
'* The unpolluted deep well waters from the chalk rank amongst
the best and most wholesome with which we have become ac-
quainted. They are almost invariably colourless, palatable, and
brilliantly clear."*
Reading Beds.
These beds, the lowest of the Tertiary formations in Berkshire,
crop out at the surface in the south-western corner of the county
and form a narrow band between West Woodhay and Inkpen,
from whence they increase to nearly a mile in width, and extend
westerly for a distance of two miles, almost to the county-boun-
♦ Kivers Pollutioji Comniission. Sixth Report, 1874, p. 102,
10 WATER ST^PPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
dary, where they form the apex of the triangular area occupied
by the main mass of the Tertiary beds in the synclinal trough
of the Chalk of the London Basin. From this Avestern extremity
the Reading Beds appear at the surface along the northern side
of the London Basni, by Hampstead Marshall to the south ot
Newbury, where they pass under the valley-deposits of the river
Kennet, and reappear at Thatcham. They extend in a northerly
direction around Coldash Common to Oare ; then southerly and
easterly by Bucklebury to Bradfield and Englefield, where they
disappear again beneath the valley-deposits of the Kennet south
of Tilehurst. They crop out at Whitley Manor Farm, where
they border the alluvium along the escarpment in a northerly
direction to Reading, then range easterly and northerly by Son-
ning, beyond which they pass under the valley-deposits of the
river Loddon. They reappear at Ruscombe, and continue in a
north-easterly direction by White Waltham to Bray, where they
disappear beneath the valley- deposits of the Thames and beyond
the county.
Besides this outcropping mass of Reading Beds, which are con-
tinuous beneath the London Clay of the London Basin, there are
numerous outliers in the county to the north of it, some of
which are of considerable area, whilst many others are very small.
The largest are Bowsey Hill, to the east of Wargrave (which
includes some London clay) ; Tilehurst , west of Reading ; Yat-
tendon; Frilsham ; Winterbourne ; and Wickham, north-west of
Newbury.
The Reading Beds in Berkshire generally vary from about 70
to 90 feet in thickness, but are a little less in places. They consist
of variously coloured mottled plastic clays, and more or less
loose sands, Avith a persistent "bottom-bed," generally from
about 7 to 10 feet in thickness, of interstratified dark bluish-grey
stiff clay (sometimes laminated) and brown and olive-green
coloured glauconitic sands. The mottled clays generally occur
in the upper part of the formation, varying from about 30 to 50
feet in thickness, and the sands beneath them from about 20 to
40 feet.
Good supplies of water are frequently obtained from the
saturated sands of this formation, and often of a soft character.
But, when the sands are loamy and compact, as they sometimes
are beneath the London Clay of the London Basin, the yield of
water is much less copious. When a boring is made in the
London Basin through the impervious London Clay into these
pervious and water-bearing sands of the Reading Beds, the water
will rise in the bore-hole to nearly the same level as to where the
rain-water is absorbed by the sands at their outcrop. Around
outliers of Reading Beds, and also along the outcrop of the
main mass, a large quantity of the rain-water that has per-
colated through the sands is thrown out by the clays, etc., in
the ** bottom-bed," and thus escapes at the junction of the
Reading Beds with the Chalk, in which latter formation it
frequently disappears in funnel-shaped cavities known as
" swallow-holes,"
INTRODUCTION. 11
London Clay.
This great clay formation appears at the surface within the
area occupied by the main mass of the Reading Beds, with Bagshot
Beds and Drift-deposits overlying it in many places, and it also
occurs on some of the outliers of the Reading Beds, with over-
lying Drift-gravel. It consists of stiff brown and dark bluish-grey
clay, with layers of concretionary masses of argillaceous lime-
stone known as '* septaria." It is, for the most part, uniform in
character throughout its entire mass, with the exception of its
*' basement bed," which consists of interstratified loam, clay, . and
brown and olive-green coloured glauconitic sands, with septaria
and concretionary argillaceous ironstone nodules, flint pebbles,
shells, lignite, and iron pyrites, and sometimes the whole bed is
of a blackish colour from the presence of carbonaceous matter.
The topmost part is also sandy.
The thickness of the London Clay underground at Ascot Race
Course (where it is overlaid by Lower Bagshot Sand) is 349i feet,
its base being 417 J feet beneath the surface ; and at AVindsor
l^ark, near Cumberland Lodge (where it is similarly overlaid by
sand) it is 814 feet thick. From this eastern side of the county
the London Clay gradually decreases in thickness to the western
side, in a more or less wedged-shaped manner, between the
discontinuous or disconnected Bagshot Sand above it, and the
continuous Reading Beds beloAV it. Borings have proved the
thickness of the London Clay in many parts of the count}^;
amongst other places the following may be mentioned, namelv,
at Wokingham 273 feet, Bearwood 250, Burghfield 205, Stratlield
Mortimer 1()4J,, Inkpen, 52.
The great mass of the London Clay is almost entirely imper-
vious to water, but its " basement bed " (described above) varying
in Berkshire from about 6 to IG feet in thickness, is a water-
bearing l)ed, and small supplies — suflicient for a house or two, or
farm, etc., — can be obtained by boring down to it in many
localities in this western portion of the London Basin, when the
water will rise in the borehole to nearly the same level as where
the water enters at its outcrop. Sometimes when the water in
this bed is first reached or tapped it rises in the borehole
quickly, at other times sluggishly or very gi'aduaUy, literally
creeping up, and taking sometimes a few hours to reach its
permanent level. A well or shaft, carefully bricked in cement,
to act as a reservoir, should be sunk to about 12 to 15 feet or more
(according to the supply required) below the level to which the
water will rise in the borehole. Should the water be extracted
or pumped from the well faster than the supply comes in from
the borehole, and the water-level in the well towards the end of
the day be considerably lowered, it will rise and recover its
permanent level during the following night, when any sand that
may be brought up by the water will have had time to subside.
The quality of the water from this basement-bed varies in different
localities, according to the presence of the ingredients mentioned
as frequently occurring in its strata, such as iron pyrites, etc. ;
but the water improves both in quality and quantity by use.
12 WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
The above remarks are generally applicable to other water-
bearing geological formations, when water is obtained from them
under similar conditions.
Bagshot Beds.
This formation, which mostly consists of sand, occurs in
detached portions along the southern part of the County. It
has naturally a tripartite arrangement of upper and lower light
coloured sands, with dark green sand and argillaceous strata
intervening. These three divisions are persistent, and therefore
will be treated of separately.
Lower Bagshot Beds. — This division appears at the surface in
the south-eastern part of the county, where it is continuous
with the main mass in the London Basin; and extends from
Virginia Water westward to a little beyond Finchhampstead,
and from there northward in a very irregular manner to Bear-
wood. There are outliers at Wokingham, Toutley, Arborfield,
Farley Hill, and Eiseley Common, — a portion only of the latter
projecting into the county. A large outlier extends westward
from Mortimer and Sulhampstead to AVasing; another from
Brimpton to beyond Wash Common, S. AV. of Newbury;
whence south of the river Kennet there are several smaller
outliers extending nearly to Inkpen. North of the Kennet,
a large and very irregular outlier extends westward from
the north of Woolhampton by Bucklebury Common to Coldash
Common, to the north of which there are a few small outliers ; also,
one at Winterbourne, and two westward of Cold Ash. Most of
these large and small outlying masses are capped ^vith Drift
plateau gravel.
The Lower Bagshot Beds apparentljr rest more or less conform-
ably upon the London Clay, there being passage-beds in places ;
and they consist of buff, brown, yellow, grey and white sands,
with seams and thin beds of pale grey clay (pipe-clay), and
occasionally laminated white, grey, and liver-coloured clays.
The sands are well stratified and often false bedded, frequently
micaceous, ferruginous in some localities, and contain a few seams
and beds of flint pebbles. The formation is apparently from about
100 to 120 feet in thickness in the south-eastern part of the
county, and of less thickness elsewhere.
Good supplies of water, excellent in quality and very soft in
character, are sometimes to be obtained from these Lower Bagshot
sands, when the physical and hydro-geological conditions are
favourable; but, inasmuch as the beds are generally in an
elevated position, the rain-water which is readily absorbed by
the sands and percolates more or less through their mass, is
thrown out as springs at their junction with the London Clay,
and frequently also at higher levels where beds of clay intervene.
When Plateau Gravel overlies the Bagshot Sands, it sometimes
interferes with the free passage of the water downwards into
the sands, when it is cemented together into a conglomerate
INTRODUCTION. 13
or ferruginous mass kno^vn as " iron-pan," which holds up the
water, in consequence of which ponds are often to be seen on the
surface after much rain ; and springs are frequently thrown out
at or near the junction of the Drift gravel with the underlying
Bagshot sand. When beds or nodules of iron-sandstone are
present in the Bagshot sands in large quantities, as they are
sometimes near the base of the formation in some localities, the
water would probably be more or less chalybeate in character
but not necessarily unwholesome. Springs thrown out near the
junction of the Lower Bagshot with the London Clay under such
conditions are often of an iron-rust colour, which when flowing
through peaty alluvial deposits would tend to the formation of
bog-iron ore. In most districts, however, the Lower Bagshot Beds
yield a very soft and pure water, provided it is not contaminated
from the surface.
BracJdesham Beds. (Middle Bagshot). — These beds lie con-
formably on the Lower Bagshot, appear at the surface near
Sunningdale railway-station, and extend westward to Finchamp-
stead. They vary from about 40 to GO feet in thickness, and
consist of yellow, brown, and olive-green coloured glauconitic
sands in t,heir upper part ; and brown, grey, and liver-coloured
clays, generally laminated, in their lower part. The sands are
sometimes false bedded, and contain a few layers and beds of flint
pebbles ; also iron-sandstone and nodules, lignite and other
carbonaceous matter, and casts of shells.
Small supplies of water, of variable character, but frequently
bad, are obtained from these Bracklesham Beds, and springs are
thrown out at different horizons by the clay beds.
Upper Bagshot Beds. — The main mass of this upper division of
sand forms the high ground, of very irregular shape, at and in
the neighbourhood of Easthampstead Plain. Two outliers occur
at Finchampstead, and four on Bagshot Heath within the county.
The sand is of a buff colour, yellowish and whitish in places ;
generally devoid of signs of stratification and bedding ; and flint
pebbles seldom occur in it. It contains small concretions of iron-
stone, often with casts of shells. Plateau Gravel overlies it at
Easthampstead Plain and at Finchampstead Ridges.
Generally only small supplies of water can be obtained from these
sands, on account of their irregular physical and elevated position.
Springs are thrown out at or near tneir junction with the under-
lying Bracklesham Beds, where a flint pebble-bed often occurs.
The water is usually very soft and of good quality.
On account of the very soft character of the water from these
Bagshot siliceous sands, both Upper and Lower, and from the
general absence of lime in the strata, neither lead nor galvanized-
iron pipes should be used, as in the one case the water would
become charged with lead, and in the other with zinc, and thus
either lead or zinc poisoning might be brought about from the
contamination of an otherwise very pure water,
3813. p
14 WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Drift Deposits.
The nature of these deposits, and the supply and character of
the water they contain, are indicated in the table of Geological
Formations, classified under the terms Kecent and Pleistocene.
The lowest-lying Valley-Gravels — which when favourably situated
often contain a large quantity of water — seldom exceed 30 feet
in thickness. Those at a higher level seldom exceed 20 feet, and
contain a much smaller quantity of water, varying considerably
according to area and local physical conditions. The thickness
of the Plateau Gravels varies from a few feet to about 20, and
owing to their elevated and irregular position they usually
contain but a small supply of water, as so much escapes by the
lips or indentations around the hill-slopes.
The wells consequently being shallow are very liable to surface
contamination ; they should accordingly be steined with brick-
work in cement as far down as practicable or desirable, in order
that the more or less polluted surface-water may percolate or
filter through a considerable thickness of gravel, loamy sand,
etc.; which would tend to oxidate and render innocuous any
injurious organic matter taken up by the water in its passage
before entering the well. But, equally or still more important is
it to keep the drains, cesspools, etc., watertight, as previously
mentioned,* so that the natural filtering constituents of these
Drift or other deposits should be kept as clean as possible, and
free from all noxious material. If these gravels, etc., are already
polluted, then by paying proper attention to drainage, they would
for the most part, by the frequent passage of rain-water through
them, soon become clean again.
In comparing these shallow wells with deep wells, or borings
into a water-bearing bed situated beneath or between impermeable
strata, it may be mentioned, that such surface-polluted water,
" when it penetrates only to shallow wells, still retains a consider-
able proportion of its polluting organic matter in an unoxidized
condition ; but when it descends through 100 feet or upwards of
porous soil or rock, the exhaustive filtration to which it has been
subjected, in passing downwards through so great a thickness of
material, and the rapid oxidation of the dissolved organic matters
in a porous aerated medium, afford a considerable guarantee that
all noxious constituents have been removed, even from such
portions of the water as have passed perpendicularly downwards,
fetill more so must this obviously be the case with the even
much larger portion which reaches a Avell in a more or less
horizontal direction, through far greater thicknesses of porous
medium." t
'^ Introduction, p. 1.
t Rivers Pollution Commission.
Sixth Report. 1874. p. 89.
INTRODUCTION.
15
Annual Rainfall of Berkshire.
{From ''Rainfall Tables of the British Islands, 1866-1890.")
Height
above
Period of
Maximum
Minimum
Mean
Locality of Observation.
Mean
Observa-
Sea-
Level.
tion.
Rainfall.
Rainfall.
Rainfall.
Cookham - - - -
90
1866-90
30-64
19-52
25-99
Farringdon
340
1881-90
35-97
21-05
27-47
Hungerford (Denford Park)
430
1881-90
38-41
22-50
28-87
Long Wittenhani
170
1866-80
3512
16-88
28-29
Maidenliead
90
1866-80
34-83
18-49
26-94
Newbury (Greenliam)
200
1866-80
37-33
20-40
2919
Reading ....
154
1866-90
29-32
19-51
25-86
Wallingford (The Castle) -
175
1866-80
31-93
15-48
26-03
List of Geological Survey Works on Berkshire.
Sheets of the Indsx Maj^. Scale four miles to one inch.
11. Western part of the county. (W. of Reading.)
12. Eastern part of the county. (E. of Reading.)
Sheets of the Map. Old Series. Scale one inch to a mile.
7.
South- western corner. Windsor, Maidenhead, Cookham, Wargrave,
Twyford. 1861. Revised to 1872. Drift Edition 1871. By W.
Whitaker and C. E. Hawkins.
North-western corner. Wokingham, Easthampstead, and Sunning-
hill. 18G2. Revised to 1868. By T. R. Polwhele. Drift
Edition 1887. By W. Whitaker, F. J. Bennett, and C. E.
Hawkins.
Northern part. Hungerford, Inkpen, Kintbury, Newbury, Thatcham,
Stratfield, Mortimer, Swallowfield. 18G0. By W. T. Aveline, H.
W. Bristow [W. Whitaker], and R. Trench.
Western and Southern part. Reading, Lambourn, Farringdon,
Wantage, Abingdon, Wallingford. 1859. By W. T. Aveline,
H. W. Bristow, E. Hull, H. Bauerman, and W. Whitaker.
34. Small part on Eastern side. Shrivenham. 1857. Revised to 1859.
By E. Hull.
45 (S.W.). Very small part on South, near South-eastern corner.
Wytham, 1859. By E. Hull.
8.
12.
13.
26
268.
Sheets of the Mai). New Series. Scale one inch to a mile.
All but the Western part and a narrow strip along the South-eastern
Strt. Newbury, Thatcham, West Woodhay, Inkpen, Kintbury,
ungerford, Lambourn, Compton. 1898. By F. J. Bennett.
All South of the Thames, with the exception of a narrow strip along
the Southern part of the sheet. Reading, Wokingham, Swallow-
field, Stratfield, Mortimer, Aldermaston, Bucklebury, Streatley,
Pangbourne. 1898. By J. H. Blake and (S.W. part by) F. J.
Bennett.
283. Only a small part near North-western corner. 1898. By F. J.
Bennett.
3S13.
B»
16 WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Sheets of the Horkonial Sections. Scale sir imches to a mile.
72. No. 2. From Lamboiii'ii Downs, Berksliirc, on tlio south. By E.
Hull, 1867.
74. From Cliobham Ridges, in Surrey, through Virginia Water, Windsor,
Stokos PogGS, Hedgerley, Beaconsfield, and Ellesborough to
Bishops tone in Bucks. By AV. Whitaker, 1868.
81.. From White Hill, near Kingsclere, in Hampshire, to Pinsley Wood,
near Handborough, in Oxfordshire. By H. W. Bp.istow and E.
Hull, 1870.
Memoirs, Sro.
The Geology of Parts of Oxfordshire and Berkshire. (Sheet 13.) By E.
Hull and W. Whitaker. 1861.
The Geology of Parts of Berkshire and Hampshire. (Sheet 12). By
H. W. BiiiSTOw and W. \¥iiitaker. 1862.
The Gf oology of Parts of Middlesex, Hertfordsliire, Buckinghamshire,
Berkshire, and Surrey. (Sheet 7.) ]>y W. Whitaker. 1864. (Included
in the Geology of London, etc.)
The Geology of the London Basin. Part I. The Chalk and the Eocene
Beds of the Southern and Western Tracts. By Vf . Whitaker. (Part
by H. W. Bristow.) 1872.
The Geology of London and of Part of the Thames Valley. By W.
Whitaker.
Vol. L Descriptive Geology. 1889.
Vol IL Appendices. Well sections, borings, &c. 1889.
The Jurassic Rocks of Britain. Vol. V. The Middle and LTpper Oolitic
Rocks of England (Yorkshire excepted). By H. B. Woodward. 1895.
Soils and Subsoils from a Sanitary point of view. By IL B. Woodward.
1897.
The Cretaceous Rocks of Britain. Vol. I. The Gault and Upper
Greensand of England. By A. J. Jukes-Browne. 1900.
Vol. II. The Chalk of England. (In preparation.)
The Geology of the Country around Reading. By J. H. Blake. (In
preimration.)
n
WELL SECTIONS W BERKSHIRE.
[Words, &c., in square brackets, have been added by Mr. W. Whitaker
or myself.]
Abingdon.
Rev. J. 0. Clutterbuck, Joiirn. R. Agric. Soc, ser. 2, vol. i., p. 281.
The water was slightly impregnated with sulphuretted hydrogen and
iron-salt.
Kimeridge Clayj f^^^.
Coralhan Beds J
Aldermaston.
1. Aldermaston Wh\.rf.
The Brewery. 1849 and 1868. {^ee p. 106.)
Communicated by Mr. J. T. Strange.
Level of ground about 180 feet above Ordnance Dtaum.
The water rises to a height of 15 feet above the surface and is very pure.
Temperature of ^\ater, 53 degrees, has never altered. Bored in July 1849,
re-bored entirely in 1868, and again in 1894 by Mr. Edw.vrd Margrett.
^^n ^y 1 « Surface soi , kc.
Gravel,ctc., (.^avel &c -
34 feet.] J ^^avei, ttoc.
[Basement- \
bedofLon- I Sand and shells, with clay-stone
don Clay, | [septaria] at 40 feet
16 feet.] J
Blue clay and clouded [mottled]
at 40 feet - - - - * -
[Reading J Sand and a spring, with a thin bed
Beds, ( of " sulphur ore ' (sulphide of iron)
73 feet.] at 105 feet - . - -
Blue clay and sand - - - -
V Sand and [tiint] pebbles -
Depth.
f^ffik.] }«^^"^
Feet.
4
34
50
100
115
118
123
149
1^
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
2. Mr. C. E. Keyser's. 1896.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Edward Margrett.
Shaft 10 feet, the rest bored, and tubed 33 feet into the Chalk.
Water rose to 6 feet above the surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet,
Feet.
Made ground - -
4
4
■^s^rE : ; ; ; ;
6
3
23
10
13
36
'Blue clay with clay-stone [sep-
[LondonClay, ^^M^^ and shells, then clay
78 feet is ^^*^ pyrites and water,
•J I followed by loamy and sandy
^ clay with clay-stone [septaria]
78
114
Mottled red, blue, grey, yellow
[ReadingBeds, and green clay, then sand,
70 feet.] 1 and sandy clay with shells
I at base - . . .
70
184
[Upper \Soft chalk, then chalk with
Chalk] / flints
79
263
Aldworth.
1. The Village Well.
Made and communicated by Mr. John Higgs, of Basildon.
Water-level 42 feet from bottom.
Mould and stones - - - - - 6'
Chalk [with flints in upper part] - - 364^
370 feet.
2. Bower Farm.
Made and communicated by Mr. J Higgs.
Clay-with-flints
Chalk [with flints in upper part]
335/
346 feet.
3. Buerhold Hill Farm.
Made and communicated by Mr. J. Higgs.
Water-level 10 feet from bottom.
Gravel ------- 14'
Chalk-with-flints ----- 126^
140 feet.
4. Mapleton's Farm.
Made and communicated by Mr. J. Higgs.
Water level 5^ feet from bottom.
' . - ^^3|l52feet.
Clay-with-flints
Chalk- w ith-flints
F. J. B.
ARBORFIELD — ASCOT.
19
Arborfleld.
The Mole. Messrs. H. & G. Simonds, 1896.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Alfred Callas.
Water-level 25 feet from surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
[London Clay, ,
180 ft.]
[Reading Beds]
Soil .....
/Yellow clay and loam
Blue clay ... -
Black loam - - Imoc^ T
Black and green sand 11-^^^^;
Sand, stone, and peb- f ^^^^^ '
Yellow sand - - - -
Feet.
2
17
157
1
10
2
6
Feet.
2
19
176
177
187
^ 189
196
Ascot.
1. Race Course.
About 250 feet above Ordnance Datum.
Made and communicated by Messrs. S. F. Baker <fc; Son.
Shaft 250 feet, the rest bored.
Supply so small that the well was abandoned.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
Surface soil, loam - - . - .
3
3
fHard yellow sand and loam
38
41
Hard grey sand
4
45
[Lower Bag-
Hard grey sandy clay and
shot Beds, ^
pebbles
5
50
65 feet.]
Fine grey sand - . - -
Brown clay ....
H
59*
"
1
60i
^ Fine grey sand -
7^
68
Brown sandy loam -
4i
72^
Brown shale ... -
2^
75
Grey sand and decayed timber -
1
76
Light brown clay
9i
85i
Dark clay and metal [pyrites] -
H
88|
[London Clay,
349ifeet.]
Sandy clay - - " -
Grey sand - - - -
Darker sand and clay
18
eh
4
106§
113
117
Clay and shells - - -
Shelly blue clay
103
220
5
225
Blue clay - - - . -
187
412
Brown sandy clay \ basement- (
\Fine brown sand - j bed \
2§
414^
3
417^
'Dark brown mottled clay
3^
421
Sharp brown sand -
5-^
426^
Fine sand and stone -
8J
435^
Light [-coloured] mottled clay -
6
44U
Yellow sand and sandstone
6
447i
[Reading
Mottled clay - - - -
18
465^
Beds, 721 feet.]
Sand and pebbles
5i
470^*
Light- brown clay
Light [-coloured] sandstone and
^ sand - - -
9^
480^
3^
483}
Strong black clay
■2h
486i
l[Missing bed ? ? flints] -
4
490i
Chalk --------
220
710i
20
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
An account published by the Rev. A. Irving {Proc. Geol. Assoc, vol. ix.,
no. 6, p. 417) differs somewhat, giving less details in the top 412 feet, vv'liich
are as follows therein : —
Soil -------- 2i feet.
Bagshot sand - - - - - 115^ „
Blue clay - - - - - - - 294 „
The underlying beds are the same as in the above account, except at the
bottom of the Reading Beds, which is thus given : —
Strong black clay . - - _ . 4 feet.
Dark brown clay - - - - - - 2^ „
The beds below the Bagshot Sand are not classified however, and I
am led to think that too great a thickness has been assigned to that
formation.
It is from this account that the depth in the Chalk has been inserted.
A tracing, communicated by Mr. Wm. Menzies, agrees with this, except
in making the total depth 707 feet.
W. W.
2. The Village of Ascot, etc., 1878.
The following particulars are taken from Dr. Ballard's Report to the
Local Government Board, dated July 10, 1878 ; and which contains geologi-
cal information from Mr. C. E. Hawkins.
" The geological_ formation on which the district stands, is the Lower
Bagshot Sand, which lies immediately upon the London Clay. In various
parts upon the surface there are beds of gravel of a few feet in thickness,
and in some places, either upon the surface in patches, or at various depths
below the surface, there are layers of a pale yellow sandy clay and occa-
sional seams of nearly pure pipeclay. These clay layers of varying thickness
and extent are irregularly dispersed through the sand, together with more or
less of a sandy loam. On sinking down through the ground, water is met
with abundantly in a ' running sand,' at depths, varying with the elevation
of the place, from about 70 to 16 feet. It is found impracticable to sink
wells many feet in this ' running sand,' and, when the attempt has been
made, the Avells have quickly silted up and sand has been pumped up with
the water. It is into sand of this character that nearly all the wells which
furnish the water-supply of the district are sunk."
" Table showing the Depths of various Wells at Ascot, the Level of the
Water in them approximately, and the Elevation" of the Surface of the
Ground above Ordnance Datum in respect of each."
CO ^
c* 1^ '^
»-< n:>
c3 ©
vatic
dab
in f
^ eg
07^^
r^-^ ^
"^ ^ 3
^^-£
<u-, <^
^^1
BS^
0^
+^ feci?
.
BO ^
Distance f r
of grounc
in
proxi
rface
danc
1
^So
n3 C
1. Well at Ascot Hotel -
la. Another well at Ascot Hotel
2. Garden-well at " Heatherfield " -
3. House well at " Heatherfield " -
4. Well at Ascot grand stand -
4a. Trial boring on racecourse -
5. Well at Gothic House
6. Well at Ascot Wood House lodge
7. Well at i^scot Wood cottage
307
307
272
307
300
260
280
278
275
70
4
66
4
42 6
3 6
76 6
3 6
71
3
45 0?
—
44 10
5 2
39 2
2 10
46 6
3 8
74
70
46
80
74
50
42
50 2
ASCOT — ASHAMPSTEAD.
21
Table showing the Depths of various Wells at Ascot, kc.—contimied.
*■
ition of
above
in feet.
II
1^
%
03 pj C
t^
^
(P t^ c3
1 to
romt]
. to t
I feet.
1
^^.
^1
-s
CD ^
>< O ^
O
0!
^
O o ^
a o
^
u (^ C
ce K
4^
f—*
App
surfi
Ord
Dist
of g
P.
1
8. Well at Ascot Wood House (new
well)
273
49 10
3 2
52
9. Well at new cottage opposite
Dunham's, Racecourse Lane -
272
29
2 6
31 6
10. Well at Dunham's, Racecourse
Lane - - - -
270
25
3
28
11. Well at Hermitage (old well) -
270
33 2
2 10
36
12. AVell at Post Office, Ascot (Long-
hurst's) -----
270
28 5
6 3
34 8
13. Well at The Hermitage (new
well)
273
43
2 6
45 6
14. Well at Ashby's, New Mile Lane
265
27
14
41
15. Well at Holmes', New Mile Lane
262
28
9 3
37 3
16. Well at Cowies', New Mile Lane
260
27 2
8 10
36
17. Well at The Wilderness (superfi-
cial well) - - . -
260
6
6
12
18. Well at Sunninghill House
School, Ascot (house-well)
260
38 7
4 1
42 8
19. Well at Sunninghill House
School, Ascot (garden-well) -
225
17 6
7 6
25
20. Well at Mr. W. Critcher's, Keep's
Corner
230
3 6
9
12 6
21. Well at King's (between last and
r>rick-Kiln Farm) - - -
240
16
5
21
22. Well at Brick-Kiln Farm. (See
p. 106) -----
240
16 6
6
22 6
Ashampstead.
1 to 7. Communicated by Mr. John Higgs to Mr. F. J. Bennett.
1. The Village Well.
473 feet above Ordnance Datum. Water-level Sj feet from bottom.
Clay-with-flints - - - - -
Upper Chalk - - - - -
2. Alburys Farm.
438 feet above Ordnance Datum. Water-level
Clay-with-flints
6
226
1 232 feet.
feet from bottom.
"^217 feet.
Upper Chalk - - - - - - 209
3. Childs' Court Farm.
330 feet above Ordnance Datum. Water-level 13 feet from bottom.
Clay-with-flints - - - l^lco ^^^4.
Upper Chalk ------ 54 r^ *^^*'
22 WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
4. HartHidge Farm.
429 feet above Ordnance Datum. Water-level 8 feet from bottom
Loam and Hints [Clay with flints] - - 8) ^-.^ . .
Upper Chalk - - - - - - 212)220 f^et
5. Keeper's House on the Common.
Clay and gravel [Clay with flints] - - 19\i kq ^ +
Upper Chalk ------ i34|i''5d teet.
6. Blacksmith's on the Common.
Gravel ------- 17)i.. r .
Upper Chalk ------ 1 33 1 155 feet.
/7. Palmer's Cottages.
Water-level 3 feet from bottom.
Clay-with-flints - - - - Sl-.^^^ <■
Upper Chalk - - - - - _ 128 J 1^6 feet.
Basildon.
1. Bland y's Farm.
1 to 22. Communicated by Mr. J. Higgs to Mr. F. J. Bennett.
400 feet above Ordnance Datum. Water-level 4i feet from bottom.
Gravel and clay [Clay-with-flints] - - 15\j,j.^ ^^ .
Upper Chalk [Chalklwith-flints] - - 208/'^^'^ ^®®^'
2. Hook End Farm.
300 feet above Ordnance Datum. Water-level 6 feet from bottom.
Clay and flints [Clay-with-flints] - - 8\,o«r ,
[Upper Chalk] chalk and flints - - - 128/^'^^ ^®®^'
3. Hook End Lane Farm.
290 feet above Ordnance Datum. Water-level 3 feet from bottom.
Mould and stones [valley gravel] - - 22) oj^ f^pf
Chalk-with-flints - - - - - 12/'^^ ^®^^-
4. Tomb Farm.
298 feet above Ordnance Datum. Water-level 3| feet from bottom.
Mould and stones [valley gravel] - - l'^ 1 101 feet
Chalk-with-flints [rock near bottom] - - 87/
5. Home Farm.
Water-level 8 feet from bottom.
Clay and flints - ----- 7\,»,^-. .
Chalk ------- 169r^^*^®^-
6. Park Farm.
Water-level 4 feet from bottom.
Loa„,and_flints - - - - _^U|,3f,,,
BASILDON. 23
7. Basildon Hoxtse.
Water 7 feet from bottom.
Gravel - - - - - - ^^\l47 feet
Chalk ------- ISOr-*^'^^'-
8. The Stables of Basildon House.
Water 5 feet from bottom.
Soil, " Mould and stones " - - - lOK^ ^^^^
Chalk ------- 60/
9. HiGGS Cottage.
Water 3 feet from bottom.
Brown loam and stones - - - - 32\p.n i« ,
Chalk ------- 20r^^^®^-
10. Ivy Cottage.
Water 5^ feet from bottom.
Brown loam and stones - - - - ^^\^q feet
Chalk ------- 24/
11. Stone House.
Water 5 feet from bottom.
Brown loam and stones - - - - ^^X^^ feet
Chalk 24/
12. The School.
Water G feet from bottom.
Brown loam and stones - - - - l^Xgs feet
Chalk ------- 48/
13. Alburys Cottage.
Water 3 feet from bottom.
Brown loam and stones - - - - 29)^2 feet
Chalk ------- 23/
14. Buckets Well.
Water 3 feet from bottom.
Brown loam and stones - - - - 1^\48 feet
Chalk - - 31/
15. Robinson's House.
Water 4 feet from bottom.
Brown loam and stones - - - - 20\p.^^ ^^^^
Chalk - - 33/"
16. St. Bartholomew's Church or Basildon Farm, Yard well, and
Rectory.
These three wells are sunk through valley gravel, and vary in depth from
11 to 13 feet, with 2l to 3^ feet of water from bottom.
24 WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
17. White House.
Water 4 feet from b(.)ttom.
Brown loam and stones - - - -
Chalk
l^jeo feet.
18. Windebank's Cottage.
Water 3j feet from bottom.
Brown loam and stones - - - - IB^I^-f, f^.
Chalk ------- 38r^^^^*-
19. Bakbers Cottage.
Water 3 feet from bottom.
Brown loam and stones - - - - lllr»7f4-
Chalk ------- 4GJ^7feet.
20. Ceown Inn.
Water 4 feet from bottom.
Brown loam and stones - - - - 201 .- ^ ,
Chalk ------- 35) ^« feet.
21. Bossom's Cottage.
Water 5 feet from bottom.
Brown loam and stones - - - - 6 1 ^-^ 1 r i.
Chalk ------- Q^]^^ioet.
22. The Grotto.
Water 2| feet from bottom.
Soil, &c. - 6 1 oTi r .
Chalk ------- I6^|22ifeet.
Basildon (Upper).
1. House Barn. 1888.
1 to 7. Communicated by Mr. J. Higgs to Mr. F. J. Bennett.
399 feet above Ordnance Datum. Water level 9 feet from bottom.
240 feet.
Clay-with-flints - - - - - - 14)
Chalk [Upper] ------ 226)
2. Near Independent Chapel. 1888.
Water level 4 feet from bottom.
Loam and flints [Clay-with-flints] - - 15) ,..-,, n .
Chalk [Upper] - - - - - . ^.lej^'^l f^^*'
3. Kiln Farm. 1888.
430 feet above Ordnance Datum. Vv^ater-levei 7 feet from bottom.
[Reading Beds] sand and clay - - - 281 ^^, r^.
Chalk [Upper] - - - - - - 233 j^Sl teet.
BASILDOX — BEARWOOD.
25
4. Knoll Farm, near Honwood Copse. 1888.
Water level 4^ feet from bottom.
Clay and gravei [Clay-with-fiints]
Chalk [Upper] - - - -
16
246
1 262 feet.
5, ''Ked Lion" Inn. 1888.
370 feet above Ordnance Datum. Water level 10 feet from bottom.
Clav and flints [Clay-witli-f.ints] - - 10\.^^,-, f^^.
Chalk [Upper] - - -. - - .192/-^-^^®^-
6. The School. 1888.
460 feet above Ordnance Datum. Water level 10 feet from bottom.
[Reading bed;s] sand and clay
Chalk [Upper] -
7. WooDGREEN Farm. 1888. .
400 feet above Ordnance Datum. Water level 3| feet from bottom.
Loam and flints [Clay-with-flints] - - 15
Chalk [Upper] - - - - - 218
}-^
233 feet.
Bearwood.
Communicated by Messrs. Easton & Amos (Memoirs, vol. iv. p. 423.).
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
? Soil, &c.
8
8
[London
r London clay . - - -
[[P,.seme„t-bed?]{|-f,f-^:
252
260
Clay, 256 -
feet.]
3
1
263
264
"Brown clay - - - _
Light sand . . - -
11
275
10
285
Brown mottled clay -
5
290
Dark sand - - - -
4
294
Brown sand - . . -
1
295
Dark hard clay
Red mottled clay
5
300
1
301
[Woolwich
Dark sand . - _ -
3
304
and Reading
Red mottled sand -
1
305
Beds, 86
Dark red sand - - - -
3
308
feet !]
Light clay or marl -
1
309
Red mottled clay
2
311
Light sand _ . - _
1
312
Bluish sand - - . -
3
315
Dark black sand
4
319
Dark green sand
15
334
Dark brown sand
4
338
sDark sand - . . _
12
350
Chalk and tl
ints ------
15
365
[According to letters from Mr. J. Walter, the original well (a failure)
had a shaft of 150 feet, and a bore-hole of 400 feet deep, the Chalk being
pierced to a depth of 200 feet ; many oyster-shells and green-coated flints
were found.] WW.
26 WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Beedon.
At Parsonage.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Church, of Chieveley.
4 feet of water.
Clay -------
Chalk 226
i]
231 feet.
F. J.B.
Beedon Hill.
Near iiiLN.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Church.
[Reading Beds] sand and clay - - - 15loiAf^^4-
Chalk [Upper]- - - - - - 295/^1^ ^^^*-
F. J .B.
Beenham.
1. Well west of Beenham Farm, to supply cottages, 13 feet deep through
valley gravel. Surface of ground 195 feet above Ordnance Datum. I was
informed on the spot, that although there were only 2 feet of water at the
bottom of the well in summer, it rises in winter to within 3 feet of
the top.
2. There is a well situated 230 yards S.S.W. of the above, on the north
side of the road ; it is 13 feet deep through valley gravel, and pebbles were
found at the bottom, which latter is probably in the basement-bed of the
London Clay.
3. Another well occurs at Field Barn, about three-quarters of a mile
N.E. of Beenham Farm. It was 16 feet in depth in 1891 and contained
4 feet of water, but has since been deepened 5 feet. The upper part was
sunk through valley gravel, a good section of which was exposed in the
ditch alongside the road N. of Field Barn.
4. Near "Bell" Inn.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Piper.
[London Cla,0{«fX?^y^„d.Ml. I It^^^^^-
5. Another Well near the Above.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Piper.
[London Clay.]{if-"i7,„,,,,i,, 1 ,^} 36 feet.
6. The Old Kiln.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Piper.
Gravel - - - - 2^
rr J /-(I T (Brown clay - - - 2o!-38feet.
[London Clay.]|j3^^j^ ^j^y^^^^^ ^^^^ _ ^ J
4 to 6. F. J. B.
BOURTOX — BRACKNELL.
27
Bourton.
The Village. 1899.
Communicated l)y Mn. George Winship, Engineer and Surveyor to the
Corporation of Abingdon, etc.
Thickness.
Depth.
[Kimeridge] Clay -----
iliock and clay in layers
Sand and clay, almost like an ad-
mixture, and no water - - ■
Rock from which water rises and
brings up sand
Feet.
203
211
239
265
Bracknell.
Hawthorne Hill. 18S0.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Thomas Tilley & Sons.
Water-level 80 feet from surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft.
in.
Ft.
in.
Old well --------
40
40
[Blue Clay - - - .
97
137
(London ClayJ^ (^. ^.^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^^
. shells - - -j bed.]
2
139
1
8
140
8
/ Coloured clay [mottled] -
Sandy clay - - . .
2
4
143
145
Coloured clay [mottled] -
Brown sandy clay - -
7
152
3
155
Green sandy clay -
Brown sandy clay - - -
3
158
2
IGO
Stone - - - - -
2
1G2
Coloured clay [mottled] -
8
170
[Reading Beds.
Stone - - - - _
G
170
6
78 feet] ^
Coloured clay [mottled] -
Brown sandy clay -
12
C)
183
2
185
Brown sand - -
1
186
Coloured clays [mottled] -
23
209
Brown sand . - - -
1
210
Green clay- - A
5
215
Green sand and oyster [Bottom-
shells - - - bed]
1
2i6
, Light sand
2
218
[Upper] Chalk
227
445
28 WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Bradfield.
1. Bottom House Farm.
1 to 15. Communicated by Mr. John Higgs to Mr. F. J. Bennett.
Water-level 4 feet from bottom.
Mould and stones [valley gravel] - - 7\.5w <? ,
Upper Chalk] chalk-with-flints - - 30/'^' i®^^-
2. Hewen's Wood.
Water-level 7 feet from bottom.
[Reading beds] clay - - - - - 42l,^^.. ,
[Upper Chalk] chalk-with-flmts - - 65 / ^" ^ ^*^^^-
3. Barnelm Farm.
Water-level 4 feet from bottom.
Clay and gravel - - - - - - 15 feet.
4. The College Well.
Gravel ------- ^X^.i!?^^
Upper Chalk - 15|J^^2ie-t-
5. The Rectory.
Water-level 4 feet from bottom.
Gravel ------- 10\ ., c .
[Upper Chalk] chalk-with-flints - • - 31 r^ ^®®'^'
6. The Malthouse.
Water-level 20 feet from bottom.
Clay- - - - 30 feet.
7. St. Andrews.
Water-level 12 feet from bottom.
Gravel -------- 14 feet.
8. Bournfield Farm.
Water-level 6 feet from bottom.
Clay __.--.-- o feet.
9. The Union.
Water-level 16 feet from bottom.
Gravel - - - - - - - ^\a9 fppf
[London Clay] dark mild clay - - - 34/^^ '^^^•
to green sand [Basement-bed]
10. Cripp's Farm.
Water-level 14 feet from bottom.
Gravel ._----- 6V^^ r .
[London Clay] dark mild clay - - - 20/-^^'®^^-
BRADFIELD.
29
11.
Pither's
Farm.
Water level 13 feet from bottom.
Gravel
[London Clay] clay -
-
-
12.
Berry's
Farm.
Gravel
Clay-
-
_
-
12
18 feet.
;}-
feet
13. Bradfield Cottage.
Water level 10 feet from bottom.
Gravel
[London Clay] clay
20
-26 feet.
14. The Old House.
Gravel
[London Clay] clay
J|21 feet.
15. Greathouse Cottages.
[Reading Beds] clay
[Upper Chalk] chalk-with flints
30 \
119/
149 feet.
16. Bradfield Hall. 1883.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Alfred Callas.
Water-level 58 feet from surface.
[Reading
Beds, 57i
feet.]
Mottled clay - - - -
Mottled sands - - - -
Blue clay with shells and glassy
substance. [Selenite.]
Flints
[Upper Chalk] chalk-with-flints
17. Bradheld Hall.
Sunk by Mr. Piper, of Bucklebury, and communicated to Mr. F. J.
Bennett.
[Reading Beds] green sandy clay
[Upper Chalk] chalk
|30 feet.
18. Southend, new Cottages N. of Cripps' Farm.
Soil -
Loose gravel
Sand
19. Near the Above.
Soil and gravel
[?LowerBagshotand fBrown Loam -
London Clay.] \Dark clay
20 ^27 feet
^1
19 Us fee
:8i3.
30
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
20. "Queen's Head."
Gravel - - - - 15]
rimirlnn PlnvT ^^^^^wnclay - - - 4^39 feet.
21. Russell Farm.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. J. Higgs.
[Reading Beds] clay
[I^jiper Chalk] chalk
38 ~
-107 feet.
22. At House one mile and a half from the "Blade Bone."
Brown clay 26 feet.
23. Close by the Above.
Gravel
Fine gravel
Hard blue clay
♦^1
18-27 feet.
24. Tutt's Clump.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. J. Hic^gs, of Upper Basildon.
Water-level 13 feet from bottom.
Gravel
Clay
?}"
feet.
25. Woodisons Cottages, quarter of a mile E. of Tutt's Clump.
From information obtained by Mr. Higgs.
Water-level 68 feet from bottom.
Gravel ------
[London Clay and Reading Beds] clay - 63
4^>
feet.
26. New Inn, quarter of a mile S. of Bradfield Hall.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. J. Higgs.
Water-level 5 feet from bottom.
Gravel ------
[London Clay and Reading Beds] clay
>!}
89 feet.
F. J. B.
27 Junior School (Bradfield College). 1898.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Alfred Callas.
Tubed 85 feet v/itli 5-inch tube.
Water-level 85 feet from surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Soil
[ReadingBeds,/Sand and loam
75| feet] (Mottled clay - - - -
[ U pper] Chalk and flints
Feet.
2i
4l
71
122|-
Feet.
2*
7
78
200i
BRADFIELD — BRIGHTWELL.
31
28. Bradfield College. 189£.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Call as, Sons, & May.
Tubed 60 feet with 6-inch tube, then 135 feet with 5-inch tube.
Water-level 127^ feet from surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet,
Feet.
Soil Mould and gravel
2
2
[Plateau] Gravel -----
10
12
rr J r-(i f Black clay - - - .
•- xn ?'' . 1 ^'1 Black sand and shells and water
50 feet.] (pebble-bed [flints] -
28
20
40
60
2
62
[Mottled clay - - - -
35
97
[Reading J Mottled sand and water -
Beds, 68 feet.] 1 Dark-blue clay
28
125
4
129
1 Pebbles -----
1
130
Chalk and flints
70
200
29. New House. Miss Connop's. 1899.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Call as, Sons, <fe May.
Tubed 95 feet w4th 5-inch tube.
Water rose to within 106 feet of the surface.
PT 1 r\\ r^l^y ^iid loam - - -
[London Uay, I <^^^^ ^^^^.j^ ^ ^^^1^ ^^,^^^^ ^^^_
22 feet.] | ment bed] - - - -
?Mottled clay - - - -
[Reading J Mottled sand - - - -
Beds, 74 feet.] I Blue clay and loam -
iBed of flints - - - -
Chalk --------
Thickness.
Depth'.
Feet.
Feet,
6
6
16
22
38
60
15
75
20
95
1
96
62
158
Brightwell.
Test-boring for the Crowmarsh and Wallingford Joint Hospital Board.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Edward Margrett.
Water-level 9 feet from surface.
Depth.
[Light grey rock (seam of water
rTT n at 20 feet) - - - -
[Upper (^reen-; j^^rk-blue rock (seam of water
sand, 65 feet.] \ ^^ 42 feet) -' ■ - -
\Sof t grey rock with a little sand
[Gault] Clay
3813*
Feet.
21
42
65
70
C 2
32 WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Brimpton.
1. Dug and communicated by Mr. S. Joyce.
Thickness.
Depth.
Soil - - - - -
Clay and gravel
[Reading /Mottled crimson and grey clay
Beds] t Brown sand, green at bottom ■
[Upper Chalk] Chalk - - - - .
[The above given from memory by the well-sinker, but he thought the
Reading Beds might be over 50 feet in thickness.— J. H. B.]
2. Butters Lands.— Mr. R. Benyon, 1894.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Alfred Callas.
Water rises to within 72 feet of the surface. ^
Dug well, 95 feet deep, the rest bored.
Nearly all London Clay, but finished off in Reading Beds, 220 feet
3. HoLDAWAY Farm (near the Church).
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Piper.
Gravel- - - - 3"]
[Lower Bagshot and /Sand - - - - 3 V30 feet.
London Clay] \Dark clay and shells - 24 J
F. J. B.
Bucklebury.
1 to 10. Sunk by Mr. Piper, of Bucklebury, and communicated to Mr.
F. J. Bennett.
1. "Three Crowns" Inn.
[Plateau Gravel] Gravel - - - - ^]
n T> 1, , n/Loam - - - - 14 h25 feet.
[Lower Bagshot]|g^j,^ ^nd grit - - . ej
2. Bucklebury Common Q mile north of the " Three Crowns " Inn,
and near the Methodist Chapel.)
[Lower Bagshot] {j/frk day''' ""^"^^ - - 20}^^ ^^et.
3. New Cemetery.
[Plateau Gravel] Gravel - - - - 4]
[Lower Bag8hot]{|^;;^yl°*"' ; : ; 12J20 feet.
4. Sadgrove Farm.
[London clay] {^^k^'j-^-l^^ I I JOjeo feet.
5. "Blade Bone" Inn, Chapel Row.
[Lower Bagshot (?)^ ^
and I Brown clay - - - 20\« . . .
London Clay] .J Dark clay and rock - u/'^* ^^et.
BUCKLEBURY. 33
6. Well Q mile N. of the " Blade Bone").
[Lower Bagshot (?) T Stiff brown clay - - 20"!
and ^ Hard dark clay - - 12 ^35 feet.
[London Clay] - [Bed of black sand - 3 J
7. Another Well (near the above).
rStiff brown clay - - 20]
[London Clay] J Hard dark clay and rock l«w_.
\ with pearly shells and j'*^ ^®®'^'
{ oyster shells - - - 11 J
8. New Cottages in Briefs Lane (one mile N. of
Winchcombe Farm).
[Reading Beds.] Clay and gi-avel - - 25K^ . ,
Chalk [Upper] ------ 4) 29 feet.
9. Foundry.
Hard brown clay ------ 25 feet.
10. HoPGooD Farm.
[Lower Bagshot.] Loam 35 feet.
11. Hillyard Farm.
Dug and communicated by Mr. Samuel Joyce.
Water-level 16 feet from surface. Water has very unpleasant odour and
is not fit for drinking purposes.
Depth.
Soil
Mottled clay - - - .
Layer of i)ebbles
Greenish sand and small shells
Blue clay (reached).
12. At Common Hill.
Dug and communicated by Mr. Samuel Joyce.
Thickness.
Depth.
[Plateau]
[Lower
Bagshot]
Gravel
j-Sand, etc. - . . .
n 1 r^^ n (Blue clay, with rock-stone [sep-
[London Clay]| ^^^^ .J'^ ^^^^^^ ^^ 35 f J^ * .
Feet.
6
28
10
Feet.
6
34
50
34
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Burghfield.
1. The Hollies. 1896.
Bored and coir municated by Mr. Alfred Callas.
Water-level 154 feet from the surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
Soil -
3
3
Drift - - Gravel
2
5
[Lond- i'leif^'^'^"^" : :
28
162
28
190
Clay 195 < ^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^j^^^^ j-g.^^^.
^^^^•] I inent-bedl - - - -
10
200
[Reading / Very fine sand
Beds, 11 feet.] \ Yellow sand - - - -
9
209
2
211
2. King's Hill, seven-eighths of a mile N.W. of the Church. 1898.
About 207 feet above Ordnance Datum.
Bored by Mr. Alfred Callas, of Reading, details communicated by
Mr. H. G. WiLLiNK and Mr. Callas.
Water rose to within 62 feet of the surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
.-Feet.
'Clay [Septaria at 35 feet and
[London Clay, g^^^J. ^^;^^ ^^^^ ^{^^^^^ '^^^.^^{^
ri leei.j | pebble-bed at 72) [Basement-
61
61
11
72
^ Brown sand - - - -
8
80
Grey clay streaked with red -
10
90
Green do. do.
4
94
Red streaky mottled clay
3
97
Light brown and grey mottled
clay -----
2
99
Dark stiff grey clay -
3
102
Red mottled clay -
2
104
Mottled grey and yellow sandy
— ^
clay
10
114
i ixeaamg /
Beds, 76 feet.] ^
Mottled clay - - - -
Crumbly light grey sandy clay
5
9
119
128
Crumbly blue do. do.
2
130
Solid blue clay
1
131
Mottled clay and sand -
4
135
Bluish-green sand -
1
136
Grey clay and sand
3
139
Grey sand - . - .
2
141
S^nlytlyandsandltY'r-
I with shells at 145 J ^^^J
3
144
4
148
[Upper Chalk]- Chalk
20
168
BURGHFIELD.
35
3. The Poplars. Mr. Ernest Chance. 1898.
300 feet above Ordnance Datum.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand & Sutcliff.
Water rose to within 150 feet of the surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft.
in.
Ft. in.
[Plateau ]
Gravel, etc.,
5 feet.]
Loam
"Red clay and gravel
1
3
6
G
1 6
5
' Red clay -
-
12
6
17 6
Blue clay
-
.')
22 6
[London Clay,
Septarium
-
6
23
205 feet.] \ Blue clay
-
78
101
Clay and i)ebbles
-
6
101 6
Sandy clay (shells at 194
feet)-
108
6
210
1 Mottled clay -
-
2
212
Blue clay and grey sand
-
2
214
Mottled clay and grey sand -
34
248
[Reading
Mottled clay -
-
11
259
Beds, 70 feet.] ^
Grey sand and mottled clay -
i
6
266 6
Mottled clay -
-
i
G
274
Green sand, clay and
shells
. [Bottom Bed] -
-
6
280
[Upper Chalk.] Chalk-with-flints -
-
94
374
No appreciable supply of water stated to have been reached until the last
24 feet.
The shells met with at 194 feet probably occur in the u])per part of the
Basement-bed of the London Clay, — the Basement-bed being probably
from 10 to 14 feet thick. J. H. B.
4. HosEHiLL Farm.
Boring made by Mr. Edward Margrett (of Reading).
Information obtained on the spot.
Water-level (in 6-inch iron tubes), 6 feet 3 inches below surface.
•
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
'Soil - . . . .
2^
21
Brown loam clay with a few
Drift, 11 feet -
flints -----
Coarse subangular brown flint-
4^
7
gravel
4
11
( Mottled blue, green, and brown
loamy sand - - - -
10
21
Ash-coloured sand -
34
55
Do. do. with some
[Reading Beds,
small hard marly pebbles
504- feet.]
and irregular-shaped small
flints -----
4
59
Greenish sandy clay with
blackish irregular - shaped
V pebbly flints, mostly small -
2|
6U
Chalk - - [Touched.]
36
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
5. Farm north of the above.
Boring made and communicated by Mr. E. Margrett.
Drift, 13 feet - Gravel -
' Mottled clay -
- Blue clay
. Coarse grey sand
- [Touched.]
Reading
Beds, 39
feet.]
Chalk
Thickness,
Ftet.
13
21
14
4
Depth.
Feet.
13
34
48
52
Burntiiill.
1. BuRNTHiLL Common. Dr. Breach's.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. John Higgs.
501
[Reading Beds] Sand and Clay
[Upper Chalk] Chalk-with-flints
134)
184 feet
2. One mile E. of Burnt Hill Common.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Piper, of Bucklebury.
Depth.
'Yellow clay -
[Reading Beds]- Sand
.Green sand
[Upper Chalk] Chalk -
Feet.
10
40
43
193
3. Stroud's Farm, E. of Burnt Hill.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. J. Higgs.
Water-level "Gi feet from bottom.
Clay, with flints
[Upper Chalk] Chalk with flints
F. J. B.
13^}l46 feet.
CHALLOW — CHIEVELEY.
37
ChaUow (East).
Challow Marsh Farm (nearly | mile S. of the Railway). 1896.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand & Sutcliff.
Water-level 21| feet down. Yield 450 gallons an hour.
Thickness.
Depth.
Soil -
[Gault, 31
feet]
[Kimeridge
Clay, 195|
feet.]
Ft. in.
2
J Blue Clay
(Sand
30
1
[Corallian,
23^ feet.]
Stone
Clay and Stone - . -
Clay
Sand and Shells
Clay and Shells, with rock at
203 to 204 - - -
Sandy clay and shells
Sandstone - . - -
Sandy clay
Rock
Sandy clay, 3 inches of rock at
6
26 6
Sand ...
Rock (some in thin bands)
Sandy clay, with 6 inches
rock at the base -
44
6
116
of
6
1
5
3
9
12 6
2 6
Ft. in.
2
32
33
33 6
60
104
110
226
228 6
232
233
234
236 3
237
249 6
252
W. W.
Chieveley.
1. Near Mr. Piggot's.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Church, of Chieveley.
Water-level varies from 4 to 16 feet from bottom.
Reading Beds] clay 1^1 ma i-^^*.
Chalk (thin hard bed at 60 feet) - - gifio^^e®^-
2. At Schools. 2 wells.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Church.
No. 1. Clay .----- 20\,^^ , ,
Chalk ^^]\OQi^ei.
No. 2. Clay - 10\,^. . ,
Chalk - 95r^^^®®*-
1. <fe2. F. J. B
38
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Cholsey.
1. Westfield Nuksery. Messrs. Duck ct Sons.
Made and communicated by Mr. Edward Margrett.
Shaft 40 feet, the rest bored.
Water-level 130 feet from surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Chalk
Pasty chalk
Chalk and flints
Clay- - -
Soft brown chalk
tlien clialk and Hints
Feet.
40
70
97
100
170
2. Near Railway Station.
Dug and communicated by Mr. Samuel Joyce.
[Lower Chalk] Marly chalk - - - - - 91
[Upper
Greensand]
f Running sands with some very
1 small shells - - - -
18 feet.
9.
Clapton.
Clapton Farm, S. of Wickham.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Ravenor, oi Newbury.
Water-level varies from 5 to 15 feet down.
Chalk [hard bed, "chalk-rock" at bottom]
150 feet.
F. J.B.
Clewer Green.
1. Captain Winterbottom's.
From Mr. Trench's Note-Book (Memoirs, vol. iv., p. 423, and
Geol. London, vol. ii., p. 3).
Sunk for 42 feet, the rest bored.
Water rose to within 35 feet of the surface.
Thickness.
. Depth.
[Valley Drift, /Yellow clay [brick-earth]
8 feet.] \ Gravel - - - -
-
Feet
5
3
Feet.
6
8
'Yellow clay
[London Clay, J Blue clay - -
192 feet.] j Coloured clay, with veins
\ sand"^ - . -
of
5
137
50
13
150
200
/Coloured [mottled] clay, ^A
n, ,. -D 1 veins of sand
[Reading Beds j Coloured [mottled] clay -
'^ ^®®^-J] Sand - - - -
, Brown clay
';ih
4
36
1
29
204
240
241
270
Upper Chalk [chalk with flints]
-
66
336
* [Part of this bed may belong to the Reading Beds.]
W. W.
CLEWER GREEN — CURRIDGE.
39
2. Wycombe Cottage.
From Mr. Trench's Note-book. (Memoirs, vol. iv., p. 424, and
Geol. London, vol. ii., p. 3.).
Sunk 20 feet, the rest bored.t
—
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
[London Clay] Blue clay - . . .
86
86
1^ Black sand [probably basement-
bed of London Clay]
4
90
Coloured [mottled] clay -
15
105
Green sand and clay
2
107
[Reading J j^^,^^^ ^^^ coloured [mottled]
rSecis, s
83 feet ?]
sand and clay
Sand
32
3
139
142
Brown clay . . .
Coloured [mottled] clay -
8
150
14
164
V Green clay - . . .
5
169
Chalk -
97
266
t [Perhaps these 20 feet are not included in the section, in which case the
depth would be 20 feet more].
W. W.
Gompton.
No. 1 at Parsonage. No. 2 at Mr. Brown's Windmill.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Church.
No. 1. Clay ..--.. 4\„3. ,
Chalk ..---- 24r®^®®*-
No. 2. Sand and clay nKrirvi- 4.
Chalk ggj 100 feet.
F. J. B.
Curridge.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Church, of Chieveley.
1. Mr. Bellhouse.
[Reading Beds] sand and clay
Chalk - . - -
g^|l08 feet.
2. Parsonage at Common.
[Reading Beds] sand and loam -
Chalk . - - . .
31
107 feet.
3. School.
[Reading Beds] sand and loam -
Chalk -----
201
70/
90 feet.
F.J.B.
40
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Denchworth.
1. South Denchworth Farm (in village nearly j-mile N.N.E. of
St. James's Church). 1899.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand cfe Sutcliff.
Water-level 28;| feet down. Yield 500 gallons an hour.
Depth.
Soil
[Kimeridge
Clay,142ift.]
[Corallian
m ft.]
, Yellow clay - - - -
Blue clay- . . . -
Sandy clay and stone
j Blue clay
( Stone - - - . .
Blue clay
Rock
Blue clay- . - . .
/ Rock, with sand at 148 to 148.^
ft. and at 153f to 154 ft.
Sandy clay . . - .
Rock, with hard sand at 159 ft. 7
in. to 160 ft. 4 in., and sand at
161 ft. 7 in. to 162 ft. 10 in. -
Sand -----
Ft in.
3
6
25
26
66 6
67 9
119 6
121 3
145 6
156 9
158 3
164 10
168
w. w.
2. Upper Circourt Farm (J-mile S.S.W. of St. James's
Church). 1899.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand & Sutcliff.
Water-level 29 feet down. Yield 500 gallons an hour.
Depth.
Soil -
[1 Gault]
[Kimeridge
Clay, 140 ft.]
[Corallian
18 ft.]
Coloured [ ? mottled] clay and
stone
' Blue clay and shells
Rock - - - - -
Blue clay- _ . " -
Rock
Blue clay and shells, with rock
at 124 to 125
/Rock - - - -
Loamy sand - - - -
^^Rock - - - - -
Sandy clay and rock
l^Rock - - - - -
Feet.
U
9
72
73^
92^
93^
149
150^
151i
155i
163i
167
w. w.
DIDCOT^ENBORNE.
Didcot.
41
" Prince OF Wales " Hotel. (Opposite Railway-station.) 1880.
From information supplied by Mr. Speller and Messrs. S. F. Baker
& Son to Messrs. W. Topley and A. J. Jukes-Browne.
Dug- well 25 feet, the rest bored.
Water-level 35 feet 8 inches from surface. Water brackish, and supply
abandoned.
Depth.
Dug-well -
[Gault]
[Lower
Greensand]
All blue clay - - - -
/Hard rock (specimen of clayey
\ coarse green sand and stones)
Ft. in,
25
201
201 8
Messrs. S. F. Baker k Son, in a letter to Mr. A. J. Jukes-Browne dated
Nov. 27tli, 1886, state "the boring at Didcot .... was not one of our
works, but we tested the water-supply from same and also pa.ssed the
boring-tools down to ascertain the depth, which proved to be 201 feet
8 inches ; there was 166 feet of water standing in borej this was decidedly
brackish and not fit for drinking ; this after a few days' pumping became
much better, but .... the work was abandoned."
East Hendred.
Orchard House. Mr. F. W. Phillips.
Made and communicated by Mr. Edward Margrett.
Shaft 1 2 feet, the rest bored. About 297 feet above Ordnance Datum.
Water-level 24 feet from surface.
rxT r^ fCherty rock and sand - - .
[Upper Green- 1 ^^^y ^^^ ^^^ ^ ,it,,^
Sana. J y glauconi tic sand
1
50j
62 feet.
East Woodhay.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Ravenor, of Newbury.
1. Hollington House.
[Bagshot] Sand 20 ft.
2. Harwood Lodge.
[Bagshot] Sand 20 ft.
F. J. B.
Elcot.
Elcot Park.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Ravenor.
Chalk 250 ft.
F. J. B.
Enbome.
Parsonage.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Church, of Chieveley.
Clay [] London Clay] - 26 ft.
F. J. B.
42
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Englefield.
1. Mr. Benyon's.
Communicated by Mr. William Rhind.
Site of Well in Timber Yard. •
Water rises to within 16 feet of the surface at about the rate of
16 gallons per minute.
Depth.
[Valley]
Gravel
rxT <^i, n 1 f Chalk (hard and dry)
[Upper Chalk] I ^^ \^^^^^ /^
Feet,
13
53
135^
2. Tube Wells in Village.
Mr. W. Rhind (in a letter dated January 21st 1889, written by Mr"
Benyon's request) states there are several tube-wells in the village about
50 feet deep. " The first water at about 10 to 13 feet from the surface is
found in the gravel, then we drive through the dry chalk for a distance of
30 to 37 feet, when we find a water-bearing stratum ; the water rises from
this depth to within 11 feet of the surface in some places, and in others to
about 12, 14 and 15 feet. This water has been analyzed, and it is a very
pure and beautiful water."
Faringdon.
1. Eagle Brewery. 1874 (?)
De Ranee, Rep. Brit. Assoc, for 1878, p. 414, and Mr. W. B. Kinsey,
Ibid., 1879, p. 159.
Water rose to within 13 feet of the surface, but was reduced by pumping
to 30 feet.
Supply 12,700 gallons per day of 11 hours, from a 3-inch bore.
Sand has blown up the pipe to 77 feet from the surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet,
1 Made f ^^^'i* ^"^ stone
■ ground y of stone.
4
7^
ll|
[? Coral Rag Ul) Rock, loose for 1 foot, hard
and Coralline - for 2 feet.
3
m
Oolite.] 1.(2) Oolitic rock
H
22
/ Grey clayey sand, firm
4
3U
Grey sand, loose
9
40j
J
Grey clayey sand, firm
11
5U
Oolitic rock and clayey rock -
2J
54
balcareous jy^^^ ^^^^ ^j^y ^-^j^ ^ j.^^j^ ^^^^
2
56
Grey clayey sand, firm
8
64
Rock (limestone)
6
70
^(3) Light grey sharp sand
' Grey sandy clay
I Grey sand with pyrites
1 0xford clay I (4) Grey sandy clay -
J? >j » ~
\ )) )) » " " "
3
73
13
86
5
91
4
95
5
100
13
113
(1.) Water 54°
(3.) Water 53°
(2.) Bottom of town wells*
(4.) Water SS''
rARINGDOX — FARLEY HILL.
43
Another Well. 1871.
Communicated by Messrs. S. F. Baker «fe Sons,
De Ranee, Rep. Brit. Assoc, for 1879, p. 113.
Shaft; upper portion 5^ feet in diameter, and lower portion 4^ feet.
About 70 gallons per minute.
Depth.
Clay, with sand and limestone - - ^
Clay, very sandy
Blue and grey clay and calcareous grit
Fine sand ------
Grey sand and clay, with water
Feet.
lOi
69i
114
2. One mile S. of Faringdon. For the Waterworks. Communicated
by :SIr. Geo. Winship, C E., to Mr. C. E. Hawkins. 1898.
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft. in.
Ft. in.
f Sponge gravel - - - -
25
25
Lower Green-
Rock -----
2
27
sand
Sand -----
4
31
Rock -----
5
36
[Kimeridge
Clay]
Clay- -----
3
39
["Blue hard rock
3 6
42 6
Coral Rag
Rubble rock - -
j Sandstone rock [Oolitic Free-
l stone].
3
9
45 6
54 6
Lower Cal-
" Sandy Deposit " or " Dead
34
88 6
careous Grit
Sand."
Shaft 50 ft. 6 in., then a 4-inch bore which yielded very little water. The
water conies mostly from the Greensand and the Coral Rag. The yield
has not been ascertained,
C. E. H.
Farley Hill.
The Poplars. 1900.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Callas, Sons, & May.
Depth.
Soil Mould - . . -
[Plateau] Gravel . . . .
rSand and loam
[Lower Bagshot I Sand with a little water
Beds, 32| feet] " j Grey clay - -
ISand and loam with water
London Clay (touched). - - - -
H
3}
6
27
28
36
44
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Frilford.
Mr. Aubertin's.
Made and communicated by Mr. Edward Margrett.
Shaft 17 feet, the rest bored.
Water-level 23 feet from surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Made earth
2
2
Rock -----
4
6
Sand -----
4
10
Rock -----
2
12
[Lower
CoralUan] \
Sand -----
20
32
Rock -----
Alternate layers of rock and
6
38
sand -----
12
50
Rock
H
52i
54j
lSand(?) - - - - -
2
Frilsham.
Frilsham House.
Made and communicated by Mr. Edward Margrett.
Water-level 121 feet below surface.
Dug- well 5 feet in diameter to 120 feet, lined with brick-steining to a
depth of 20 feet from the surface, half the depth being in 9-inch, and the
remainder in 4^-incli brick- work. At bottom of well, 12-inch bore-hole to a
depth of 80 feet.
[Upper] Chalk
200 feet.
Goosey.
1. Abbey Farm (9 chains N.KE. of church). 1897.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand & Sutcliff.
Water-level 16 feet down. Yield, 480 gallons an hour.
Thickness.
Depth.
Soil
[Kimeridge fClay and shells
Clay, lOlJjClay . - - . .
feet]- -tSandy clay and sh'li.
[Corallian, /Rock - . - .
8 feet] -\Sand
Feet
75^
18
8
Feet
77
95
103
106i
111
w. w.
GOOSEY.
45
2. Blackacres Farm, North-eastward of the village. 1896.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand & Sutcliff.
Water-level 3 feet down. Yield 350 gallons an hour.
Thickness.
Depth.
Soil -
Feet.
5
Ftet.
5
[Kimeridge
Clay] -
r Brown and blue clay and small
< pieces of rock
' I Blue clay, with few shells
15
30|
20
50|
[Corallian]
- Rock and sand - - - -
6i
57
w. w.
3. Church Farm (5 chains N.E. of church). 1895.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand & Sutcliff.
Water-level 19 feet down. Yield 400 gallons an hour.
Depth.
Soil
[Kimeridge
Clay, 106i
feet] -
[Corallian
82 feet]
[Oxfordian,
112 feet]
3813.
Hard blue and brown clay
Black shaly clay
Rock (? septarian) -
Hard black shaly clay
( Hard black shaly clay and shells
Hard black shaly clay, 7 inches
of rock at base - - -
Shaly clay and shells
^Hard black clay
^Hard sandstone and shells
Blowing sand - - - -
Grey sandstone ...
Sand
( Grey sandstone ...
Sandstone and clay -
Shell rock . . . _
Sandstone _ . _ .
,Sand and thin bands of clay -
rBlue clay with a little sand
J Blue clay - - -
tSandy blue shaly clay
Ft in.
4 6
8 6
48
49
58
67
80 7
87
111
114
119 7
122 1
124 1
138
156
156 10
159 1
193
196
283
305
W.W.
46
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
4. Goosey House (22 chains N. of church). 1896.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand & Sutcliff.
Water-level 8f feet down. Yield 700 gallons an hour.
Thickness.
Deptl
Feet.
Feet
5
5
45
50
5
55
22
77
3
80
1
81
2
83
2
85
1
86
[Kimeridge
Clay, 77
feet] -
[Corallian
Clay, 9
feet] -
relay -
J Clay and shells
j Clay, with 6 inches of rock at top
[Blue clay and shells
r Sandy clay and rock
Rock, wdth shells
(Sand - - - .
■Rock . - - - -
Sand - - - -
W. W.
5. Pound Farm (18 chains N.E. of church). 1896.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand & Sutcliff.
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft,
in.
Ft. in.
Soil - -
9
9
rStone
1
10
[Kimeridge
Clay, 84 (
feet] - -1
Clay, with 5 inches of stone at
base
Clay
Clay and shells, with a little
55
5
7
5
65 7
71
\ sand
22
93
[<Sand, with stone an:! shells
2
95
Hard rock ....
3
5
98 5
[Corallian, 16 ,
Sand and shells
2
1
100 6
feet] - -\
Sandy clay and rock
5
105 6
Bands of sand and rock -
2
6
108
^Sandstone ....
1
109
w. w.
6. MiLLAWAY Farm. (Five-eighths of a mile N.E. of church.) 1900.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand k Sutcliff.
223 feet above Ordnance Datum. Water-level 11 feet below surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft.
in.
Ft. in.
Soil
2
6
2 6
[Kimeridge /Dark-blue clay
C ay, 73^ feet.]\ Blue clay and shells
47
6
50
26
76
Rock
10
76 10
Grey sand ....
Rock - - . - .
1
10
78 8
3
6
82 2
Grey sand ....
6
82 8
[Corallian >
18 feet.] ^
Rock
Rock and sand
1
1
8
6
84 4
85 10
Hard rock . - . _
2
87 10
Sand
6
88 4
Rock
1
7
89 11
Sank
10
90 9
iRock
3
3
94
GOOSEY — GRAZELEY.
47
7. Yewtree Farm. 1897.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand & Sutcliff.
Water-level 13| feet down. Yield 600 gallons an hour.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
Dry well - [?01d]
( Clay and shells, with 6 inches of
—
13
[Kimeridge <, stone at base - - -
Pkv QU Sandy clay - - - -
fietl'- - Shaly clay and shells
■• ' ' Clay and shells, with stone at
16i
20
3
23
t 74to74ifeet
8U
104i
Corallian, /Stone
9^ feet] -\ Coarse sand - - . -
3i
108
6
114
w. w.
Grazeley.
1. Jubilee Cottages. Mr. Bromley's. 1888.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Callas.
Shaft 45 feet, the rest bored. Water rose to within 10 feet of surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Soil
[London f ^^l^e clay - - - -
Clay.] "j Black, white, and red sand
I [Basement-bed.] -
Feet.
3
80
The lowest sand probably Reading Beds.
2. Grazeley Court.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Edward Maegrett.
Shaft, about 20 feet iron cylinders, the rest bored.
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft. in.
Ft. in.
Soil
2
2
Drift - -Gravel
4
6
f Blue clay - . . .
[London Loamy clay, with shells -
Clay, 45 feet - Rock
8 in.] Loamy clay - - - -
I Rock ... - -
36
42
4
46
2
46 2
5
51 2
6
51 8
[Reading f Mottled clay - - - -
Beds, 47 fect.]\ Sand -----
32
83 8
15
98 8
3813.
D 2
48
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
3. DiDDENHAM FaRM. 1893.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Alfred Callas.
Tubed 80 feet with 4-inch tube.
Water rose to within 16 feet of the surface.
[London Clay] Blue clay [water found at 77 feet, probably
in basement-bed]
[Reading Beds] Sand
- 90
10
100 feet.
4. The Vicarage. 1899.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Callas, Sons, & May.
Tubed 55 feet with 4-inch tube.
Water rose to within 7 J feet of the surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
[London Clay] Blue clay- - - - -
'^ Bedf ?]^ JBriglit red coarse sand -
Feet
53
5
Feet
17
70
75
Grovelands.
1. Messrs. Colliers' Kiln.
Made and communicated by Mr. S. Joyce.
Diameter of well, 5 feet. Water 17 feet from bottom.
Depth.
[Reading
Beds.]
Chalk -
rSand ... -
\ Grey and red clay (mottled)
t Green sand and flints
2. At Brickyard, situated about three-eighths of a mile S.W. of the
Reading Brigade Depot.
Information obtained on the spot from the Manager.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet
Feet
{ Loam and clay, of a bluish-grey
colour and mottled in places
with red - - - -
30
30
White sand - - - -
25
55
xy^A„ 1*^ N Brown sand, of a sharp nature
3
58
Greyish blue clay (locally called^
fuller's earth) - - - 1
Greenish sand - - - i
32
90
•s Oyster-bed and flints - -J
Chalk (touched)
—
—
GBOVELANDS — HAMPSTEAD NORRIS.
49
3. At the site of the church, situated about 100 yards westward of the
Barracks or Reading Brigade Depot, and 180 yards south of the Royal
Albion Hotel.
From information on the spot at the time of the sinking of the well.
Valley Loam.
Chalk.
Brown stony loam, to chalk
In chalk, to water
^q} 35 feet.
Hagbourne.
The Gkange. Major Pilcher's.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Edward Margrett.
Shaft 7 feet in depth and 5 feet in diameter.
Water-level 10| feet from surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft.
in.
Ft. in.
^Hard rubble - - - -
6
3
6 3
Sandstone rock . - .
1
9
8
Loam and a little red sand
8
6
16 6
Sandy and marly beds with
[Upper Green- ^
sand, 54 feet.]
nodules . - - -
Solid sandstone rock
9
2
9
25 6
28 3
Marly, with nodules and sand-
stone rock - - - -
4
3
32 6
Marly, with nodules
10
3
42 9
Solid sandstone rock and loamy
\ sand
11
3
54
[Gault] Clay - - - -
8
62
Hampstead Norris.
1. Hotel. No. 2. Manor House.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Church, of Chieveley.
^°-"8lri[k ::::::: .>''■
F. J. B.
3 to 8. Communicated by Mr. J. Higgs, of Basildon, to
Mr. F. J. Bennett.
3. Beech Farm.
Clay, with flints - - - - " l^l^f., r.
Chalk - . . - 249/2^^ ^*-
4. BuTTONSHOW Farm.
Water-level 3 feet from bottom.
Clay, with flints "^Xqrv ft
Chalk [Upper] 260/^^^ "•
Haw Farm.
Watei 9 feet from bottom.
Clay, with flints ^\248 ft
Chalk [Upper] 243 ^^^ "'
60 WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
6. PiBWOETH Farm.
Water-level 31 feet from bottom.
g^eading Bed.] Clay - ; ; - '_ .^^^m i.
7. WooDROw's Farm.
Water-level 2 feet from bottom.
[Reading Beds] Loam and clay - - - 16X340 ft
Chalk - - - 324/
8. Wyld Court Farm.
Water-level 8 feet from bottom.
Clay with flints ------ ^^^| 185 ft.
Chalk - - 179j
Hungerford.
1 to 6. Sunk by Mr. Smith, of Hungerford, and communicated to
Mr. F. J. Bennett.
1. Union. 2. Close to Union.
No. 1. Chalk, with flints, to very hard chalk andlg^ r .
water J
3iJ
No. 2. Soil
Soft chalk, with flints - - - 88 1-98^ feet.
Hard chalk - - - -
3. Police Station.
Water-level 3t feet down.
Soft chalk, with flints 56 feet.
4. Backiday.
Chalk, with flints - ----- 55| f
Chalk rock 5J
5. Brewery.
Soft chalk, with flints 30 feet.
6. Church Street.
Water-level 3^ feet from bottom.
Soil 7n
Soft chalk, with flints - - - - - 23
Hard chalk 4 )46 leet.
Soft chalk, with flints - - - - - 8 [
Hard chalk - - - - - - -4)
7. Eddington House.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Isler & Co., of London.
Yield 340 gallons per hour.
Dug-well - - 132\2.2. .
Bored in chalk 100/^^^ *®®^-
HURLEY — HURST.
51
Hurley.
Lady Place. 1897.
Two borings made and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand & Sutcliff.
1. Water-level 6 feet down. Yield 2,000 gallons an hour.
Thickness.
Depth.
Hiver Drift -{«-^^,-„,: J
f Hard chalk and flints
Chalk - - \ Putty chalk -
(Hard chalk - - . -
Feet
16
6
91
41
Feet
16
22
31f
56
97
2. Water-level 9^ feet down. Yield 2,000 gallons an hour.
Gravel 25
63
[River Drift].
Chalk -
-88 feet.
W. W
Hurst.
1. Mr. Grose's.
1895.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Alfred Callas.
Water rises to within 11 feet of the surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet
Feet
Soil
3
3
("Yellow sand, with water -
5
8
Mottled clay -
12
20
[Reading Beds J
Grey sand and mottled clay, with
water.
25
45
75 feet]
Mottled clay -
19
64
Green sand - . - -
8
72
Black clay and loam
6
78
Rock [query indurated chalk] -
2
80
[Upper Chalk] Chalk, with flints -
20^
100^
2. Castle Inn. Messrs. H. & G. Simmonds. 1894.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Alfred Callas
Water rose to within 32 feet of the surface.
Depth.
Soil - - - -
Drift. Shingly gravel -
[London Clay (Loam and sand
18 feet.] \ Green sand and shells
rMottled clay
[ReadingBedsJ Mottled sand and loam
68 feet.] 1 Mottled sand -
(.Blue loam -
Chalk
52
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Inkpen.
KiEBY House. 1899.
Communicated by Messrs. Callas, Sons & May.
Notes in square brackets from specimens supplied to me (J. H. B.), and
from examination of the material at the spot.
Shaft 11 feet, the rest bored. Dip of strata 26 degrees North
Water-level 225 feet from surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
[BagshotBeds
90 feet.]
Soil, &c.
Sandy loam [mottled many
colours, and containing iron-
sandstone nodule].
Sandstone [brown colour and
very hard].
Sandy loam
colours].
[mottled many
[London Olay
52 feet.]
Bed of pebbles mixed with
sandy loam.
Mottled clay and loam
Mottled loam and more sandy -
Dark blue clay [stiff]
Bed of pebbles, dark blue, mixed
with clay.
Sand and loam (with water)
[coarse loose yellow sand with
thin bands of pale grey clay
, ("pipe-clay")].
Mottled clay - - . .
London clay [stiff dark blue,
but weathering light grey,
with septarian nodules con-
taining shells].
Clay-stone [large septarian no-
dules, dark grey colour].
London clay [dark blue, weather-
ing light grey, with blackish
sand at base.]
Yellow clay, with small stones
in it like gravel [probably
part of basement-bed, with
the overlying blackish sand]
21
Feet.
Feet,
2
2
15
17
2
19
10
29
2
31
17
48
17
65
2
67
2
69
90
5
95
11
106
2
108
33
141
142
INKPEN — KINGSTON LISLE.
KiEBY House. 1899 — continued.
53
Thickness.
Depth.
^Yellow and red clay-
Feet.
1
Feet.
143
Mottled sands (with water)
[light grey and brown, mica-
ceous].
13
156
Mottled clay [ash-colour 160 to
168, mottled grey, brown, and
pink soapy clay at 173].
19
175
Mottled sands (with water) [pale
brown and white].
5
180
[Reading Beds
75 feet.J
Mottled clays, very hard [mot-
tled pink and grey soapy clay
at 184, similar but more grey
in it at 187 ; dark grey soapy
clay at 196, with black car-
bonaceous matter in it at 198 ;
mottled grey and brown clay
at 206 ; dark grey clay at 208*
loamy sand at 210*]
30
210
R
Green sands [olive coloured
with shells 1 oysters].
3
213
1
Yellow clay and flints
2
215
[Upper Chalk]
1
[Blackish-grey clay and
dark greon sandy loam
vnth. shells (? oysters),
with layer of large green-
coated flints on top of
I chalk].
lalk, with flints -
2
103
217
320
* [This dark grey clay at 208, and loamy sand at 210, probably belongs to
the " bottom-bed," making the latter 9 feet thick. J. H. B.]
Kintbury.
Barton Court, N. of Kintbury.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Ravenor.
Yield 40,000 gallons per day.
[Valley Gravel] Gravel to clay - - - 12 feet.
F. J. B.
Kingston Lisle.
Kingston Lisle Park. 1891. {See p. 107).
Information obtained at the spot by J. H. B.
Dug-well, 4^ feet internal diameter.
Upper Greensand 44 feet.
Gault, just touched.
54
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Lambourn.
King WOOD House. Mr. W. I. Palmer. 1890.
Information from Mr. Joyce, the well-digger.
Dug- well, 6 feet internal diameter. Bricked 20 feet down with 9-inch
brickwork, and 6-inch concrete backing.
About 707 feet above Ordnance Datum. Water-level 292 feet
below surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft. in.
Ft. in.
2 6
2 6
7 6
10
1
11
10
21
19
40
4
40 4
11
51 4
3
51 7
10
61 7
4
61 11
16
77 11
5
78 4
6
84 4
8
92 4
4
92 8
6
98 8
10
108 8
1
108 9
3
111
li
111 li
3
114 li
6
114 7i
3
117 n
6
118 1|
2
120 li
4
120 5i
5
125 5i
125 Hi
6
2
127 Hi
6
128 5i
5
133 5i
5
138 5i
1
138 6|
4
142 6i
01
142 7
2
144 7
1
144 8
3
147 8
1
147 9
1 6
149 3
2
149 5
5
154 5
6
154 11
[Clay- with- T [Soil, etc.] Earth
flints, 10feet.]\ Clay, brown -
/ Flints -
[Upper Chalk,
237 feet.]
Chalk rubble - - - -
Wedge chalk - - -
Layer, flints - - - -
Chalk
ayer, flints - - . -
Chalk
Flints - - . - -
Chalk laying three ways -
Bed flints - - . .
Chalk - - - - -
Bed flint, thin - - - -
Chalk
Bed flints - - . .
Chalk
Thin bed flints
Chalk
Thin bed flints
Chalk - - . . .
Bed flints . - . .
Chalk, iron rust, hard chalk -
Bed iron rust, flints
Chalk - - - - .
Flints, black - - - .
Chalk
Bed, black flints
Chalk
Bed black flints
Chalk
Bed flints . . . .
Chalk, red sands one side of
well - -
Chalk and flints, mixed not in
beds -----
Layer flint [tabular-flint]-
Chalk - - - - -
Layer flint [tabular-flint]-
Chalk
Layer flint [tabular-flint]-
Chalk -----
Layer flint [tabular-flint]-
Chalk - - - - -
Three layers of flint apart in
beds [tabular-flint]
Chalk -----
Flints mixed, blue and
rust centre double beds
iron
LAMBOURN — LYFORD.
55
KiNGWOOD House. Mr. W. I. Palmer.
1890— continued.
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft. in.
Ft. in.
r Chalk
3
157 11
Flints [tabular-flint]
1
158
Chalk
2
160
Flints [ta.bular-flint]
0^
160 Oi
Chalk
4
164 Oh
Layer of flint - - - -
4
164 4|
Chalk - - - -
4 6
168 101
Flints mixed with rust iron -
6
169 4i
Chalk - - - - -
4
173 4i
Double beds 2 in. apart -
4
173 8i
Chalk
10
183 8^
Flints in thin beds -
6
184 2i
Apart, mixed with iron rust -
Cnalk and flints "plum-pud-
2
184 4^
ding fashion " - - -
8
192 4i
Bed flint
2
192 6i
[Upper Chalk,
237 feet.]
Chalk
Bed flints - - - -
Chalk
4
9
2
196 Qh
197 Zh
199 3i
Flint bed [tabular-flint] -
2
199 5i
Chalk -----
1 6
206 5^
Flint-bed [tabular-flint] -
2
206 71
Chalk
4
210 n
Layer, flint [tabular-flint]
1
210 8i
Chalk
2
212 8^
Layer, flint [tabular flint]
1
212 91
Chalk
2
214 9^
Flint bed - . - .
6
215 2\
Chalk [iTwceramus sp. ? 220 to
245, and Rhynchonella sp. ?
220 to 230] - - - -
8
223 3i
Flint bed - - - -
3
223 6|
Chalk
14
237 6|
Flint bed [tabular-flint] -
1
237 7|
^ Chalk, few scattery flints
10
247 7j
'Hard chalk, mixed iron rust
[Chalk-rock, very character-
[Middle Chalk,.
istic, with numerous gi-een-
49 feet.] ^
coated nodules] -
5
252
Very hard chalk
5
257
.Chalk -----
39
296
Lyford.
1. Manor Farm. (Close to house.) 1900.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand & Sutoliff.
Water-level 6 feet below surface.
[I^'S^f iDuK-well
[Corallian,
13 feet.]
{Rock -
Rock and sand
Rock -
Rock and sand
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft. in.
4
4
2 6
2 6
Ft. in.
9 6
13 6
17 6
20
22 6
56
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
2. Manor Farm. (In field half-a-mile E.) 1900
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand & Sutcliff.
Water-level 20 feet below surface.
Depth.
fKimeridge /Dug- well
Clay 32i feet.]\Blue clay
[Corallian, /Kock
IS^feet.] \ Rock and sand
Ft. in.
16 6
32 6
35
46
Maidenhead.
1. East Berkshire Brewery.
Made and communicated by Messrs. G. Isler & Co. Geol. London.
Vol. ii., p. 3.
Water-level 18| feet down. Yield 5,000 gallons an hour.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
-
26
45
71
5
76
12
88
7
95
8
103
25
128
Shaft
[Upper Chalk]
(the rest bored)
Chalk -
Chalk and flints
Black flints
Chalk and flints
Flints -
Chalk -
2. Stafferton Lodge. Mr. Palmer's. 1899.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Callas, Sons & May.
Tubed 5 feet with 6-inch tube.
- 23
[Valley Drift, &c.] Old dug well
[Upper] Chalk
jgUe feet.
Midgham.
1. On the Green.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Piper, of Bucklebury.
[London Clay]{SK-^l^y,^,j^ ; ." '^^ ., i^,.
2. Near the Railway Station.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Piper.
fGravel 3
[Valley Gravel, etc.]-^ Peat
.Gravel 8
)"
feet.
F. J. B.
MOULSFORD — NEWBURY.
Moulsford.
County Lunatic Asylum. 1883.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand and Sutcliff
Water-level 12 feet from surface.
Yield 250 gallons a minute, or 15,000 gallons an hour.
170 feet above Ordnance Datum.
57
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft. in.
Ft. in.
[Valley / Pit in gravel - - - -
Gravel.] \ Loamy gravel - - - -
6
6
7
13
[Lower Chalk.] Grey rock chalk [chalk marl] -
33
46
( Green sand . - - -
9 6
55 6
Hard stone and numdic
[Upper 1 [pyrites?] - - - -
4 2
59 8
Greensand.]
Hard grey sandstone
Hard grey sandstone, with
2 6
62 2
[ layers of clay
18 10
81
Another boring has since been made and united with the above, so that
water is pumped from both together.]
Newbury.
1 to 4. Sunk by Mr. Ravenor, of Newbury, and communicated to
Mr. F. J. Bennett.
Bath-road.
1. " Halfway " Inn, 4| miles W. of Newbury.
[Valley Gravel] Gravel 20 feet.
2. New Inn, 3^ miles W. of Newbury.
[Valley Gravel] Gravel - - - - 4\ «< f^^f
Chalk - - 20/2'* ^^^^
3. Benham House, S. of.
4 feet of water.
Chalk [Upper] 25 feet.
4. Benham House at Laundry.
Peat and gravel 7\ -mf^^i.
Chalk [Ujper] - - - - - 12/ ^^ ^^^*-
5. Benham House, N. of, at " Rookery."
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Betteridge of Newbury.
30 feet, of water.
[Reading Beds] {Hf^'-^y^Uo^^l^y: ; ; fOj .^ j^^^
58 WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
6 to 9. Sunk and communicated by Mr. E. Powers, of Newbury, to
Mr. F. J. Bennett.
6. Shaw Cottages, near Shaw Kiln.
No water.
[London Clay] Brown clay ----- 40 feet.
7. The Union.
^^L^ndon cllytf } ^^^^ clay and cookie shells - 30 feet.
8. Mr. Wells', opposite the Union.
^Wo'nll^tf} Blue clay. - - .- 70 feet.
9. London Koad. Mr. Bowyer's.
rGravel - - - - 4^1
[ValleyGravel,etc.]i^g^^^^'^ I '_ '_ [ ^l 15 ieet
I White gravel- - - 3;
10 to 18. Sunk by Mr. J. Betteridge, of Newbury, and communicated
to Mr. F. J. Bennett.
10. Henwick Farm.
f Loamy clay - - - 30 ^
[London Clay] i Black clay, with cockle \ 40 feet
t shells at the bottom - loj
11. Redfield House, S. of Henwick Farm.
rGravel - - - - 10]
Valley Gravel, etc. ^ Clay and Gravel - - 20 r 40 feet.
(Fine gravel - - - 10 J
12. Swan Inn, on the Beading Road, a mile N.E. of Newbury.
[Valley Gravel etc.] {P^f^^j J ." ; «} 12 feet.
13. Near the Police Station.
[Valley Gravel] Gravel - - - - 20) ,^ . .
[Upper Chalk] Chalk - - - - 20/ ^^ ^^'®*'
14. At junction of Speen and Donnington Roads.
Water-level 9 feet from bottom.
Loam - - - - - - - - 151 o- r ^
Chalk 20/ ^^ fee*-
15. North-brook Street, Mr. Staple's.
[Alluvium,etc.]{PpX-^„g,;^^, : ". ; ^jsteet
16. West Street, Mr. Allen's.
[AUuvium,etc.](^^alm and peat - - - 3| ^ ^^^^
NEWBURY.
69
17. Craven Street.
[Valley Gravel] Gravel - . - - - - lii\i7f^^f
[Upper Chalk] Chalk - - - - . H7 teet
>
18. Bartholomew Street, Nuttley's Brewery.
Water-level 20 feet from bottom,
[Valley Gravel] Gravel 12\oo t^^*.
lUpper Chalk] Chalk 20 r^^^^^'
19. Bartholomew Street, Brewery.
Dr. James Mitxihell's MSS. Vol. iv., p. 260.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet
Feet.
TYellow clay - - - -
14
14
[Reading J Pebbles, clay, and sand -
16
30
Beds] Blue clay _ . . -
9
39
(^Shells, and rock
6
45
[Upper Chalk] Chalk
135
180
w. w.
20 to 27. Sunk by Mr. J. Betteridge and communicated to
Mr. F. J. Bennett.
20. St. John's Schools.
Gravel - - - -
'Reading Beds] Sand 20,
[Valley Gravel] Gravel 10 Ion /^^f
[Reading Beds] Sand 20/^^ ^®®^'
21. Enborne Villas.
Valley Gravel] Gravel 12
"Reading Beds] Sand 12
;Upper Chalk] Chalk 16
22. Oil Mills, Enborne Road.
E Valley Gravel, etc.] Gravel and clay - - 12),^. ^^^4.
Upper Chalk] Chalk jg| 30 teet.
23. Montague Place Newtown Road.
Thickness-
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
r Blue clay . . . .
[London Clay]'. Black sand with oyster and
20
20
mussel shells, pebbles and
10
30
\ rock [Baiiement-bed] -
[Reading Beds] White sand - - - -
5
35
60 WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
24. Stroud Green. Elm Villas.
[Valley Gravel] Gravel - - - - - - 12 feet.
25. Greenham Common. Bury's Bank.
[Valley Gravel J Gravel, to sand with water - - 12 feet.
26. Greenham Church.
[Lower Bagshot] Loam, with water. - - - 35 feet.
27. Pile Hill Villas.
[London Clay] Blue clay, to sand with water - - 30 feet.
28. Wash Common. Church.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Powers, of Newbury.
[Plateau Gravel] Gravel - - - - - 8\ „, f^.
[Lower Bagshot] Sand - - - - - 13 j "^^ ^®®^-
29. Wash Common, opposite Church.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Powers.
[Plateau Gravel] Gravel 4\t^/;^ .
[Lower Bagshot] Sand 6 j ^^ ^®^^-
30 to 34. Sunk by Mr. Betteridge and communicated to
Mr. F. J. Bennett.
30. Wash Common. The Laurels.
[Plateau Gravel] Gravel, to sand [Bagshot] with water - 12 feet.
31. Wash Common. Parish Gravel Pit.
[Plateau Gravel] Gravel 20\ .^ n.
[Lower Bagshot] Sand 20 j ^^ *®®^-
32. Wash Road. The Limes.
E London Clay] Hard yellow clay ----- 20\ «^ n.
Reading Beds] Sand 10/ ^^ *^®^-
33. DONNINGTON CaSTLE HoUSE.
[Reading Beds] Clay and sand, to chalk - - - - 40 feet.
34. Red Farm, a mile N.E. of Newbury.
Water-level 30 feet from surface (120 feet of water).
[Reading Beds] Clay and sand SOIt^a^^.
[Upper Chalk] Chalk lOO/^^^ ^^^*-
35. DONNINGTON ViCARAGE.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Ravenor, of Newbury.
Loam, to chalk 25 feet.
NEWBURY.
(31
36 DoNNiNGTON ViLLAS AND SQUARE. Several wells said to be
all alike
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Kavenor.
Water-level 4 feet from bottom.
Loam, to chalk --------- 25 feet.
37. DONNINGTON InFANT ScHOOL.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Ravenor.
Loam, to chalk --------- 26 feet.
F. J. B,
«'
38. Near " Fox and Hounds " Inn.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Church
Valley Gravel] Gravel ------ Sloof^^f
>per Chalk] Chalk - - - - - - - 28/ ^^ ^®®*-
39. Shaw Crescent.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Church
[Valley Gravel] Gravel ------
15 feet.
F. J. B.
40. Water-works, Northcroft (in the marsh just above the
town). 1877.
J. W. Grover, Trans. Newbury Field Club, vol. ii., pp. 246, 247.
Yield from 34,000 gallons an hour at 1^ feet from the bottom, to 10.320 at
5 feet from the bottom. Quality good.
Shaft, through peat and gravel, to chalk - - -14 feet.
41. Deanwood. 1891.
Made and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand k Sutcliff.
Water-level 119 feet down. Yield, 1,000 gallons an hour.
Depth.
Soil -..--...
[River Drift1]{|-el ; ; ; ; ;
?Mottled clay - - - -
[Heading Beds J Sand . . . . .
50 feet] I Blue clay -----
^Dark brown sandy clay and shells
Chalk and Flints
3813.
W.W,
(3;
WATER SUPPLY OF liERKSHIRE.
42. Nkwbuky Laundry.
Made and communicated by Mr. Edward Margrett.
Shaft 32 feet (4 feet 1 a inches in diameter), the rest bored and tubed with
26 feet of 4-inch tube, 9| feet of which projects above bottom of shaft.
Thickness,
Dug- well - - -
r Dark sandy loam -
[Reading Reds] Stiff loam with layer of shells
I Dark green clay -
I T^,.,.«„ ni.oiu f Pastv chalk - - - -
'- ^SS f .7i ' -^ Chalk and flint in alternate
'^^^""^^'^ [ layers . - - .
Feet.
n
2
Depth.
Feet.
32
3G^
38
40
45
43. Hawkridge House. (Near Newbury.) Mr. H. Weber's.
^lade and communicated by Mr. Edward Margrett.
Shaft 50 feet, the rest bored.
Water-level 47 feet from surface.
irppera:alk]{g;:;^,S^.,^-^.^^-
'I^Ucofeet.
44. Greenham Lodge, 1884.
Borod and communicated by Messrs. Thomas Tilley & Sons.
Piped to 2.33 feet.
Thickness.
Depi
^1-1
Ji.
Ft.
m.
Ft.
in.
[Plateau] -
Gravel and loam -
12
12
/ Brown loam - - - -
2
14
Brown sand (little water)
4
18
Brown loam - - - -
10
28
Blue clay - . . -
7
35
Black pebbles [flint] -
Blue sand (litt e water) -
1
6
3G
G
Lower Bagshot<
4
6
41
4
Beds,
Light stone - - - -
4
41
4
43ft. 2in.]
Dead blue sand
4
8
46
Hard dark stone -
' 1
2
47
2
Dark-grey sand
5
52
2
, Blue sandy clay -
3
55
.)
[London Cla\',
GOft. lOin.J
' London clay - - - -
Black pebbles [flint]
^ Black sandy clay -
35
10
91
91
(J
G
24
G
IIG
' Coloured sand and clay -
4
120
Coloured sand
12
132
Light-brown sand and v^ater
15
147
Coloured clay and sand
8
155
[Reading Beds,
Mottled clay - - - -
15
170
80 feet.]
Green sand and water -
13
183
Black clay - - - ..
4
187
(;
Hard dark-green sand -
8
G
195
G
Flints
G
19G
Chalk -
339
535
OLD WINDSOR.
63
Old Windsor.
Lock (j-mile N.W. of). Trial boring, 1871.
Communicated by Prof. T. R. Jones. (Memoirs, Xol. iv., p. 424
and Geol. Lond., Vol. ii., p. 4.)
Water rose to a height of 35 feet below the surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
Mould -
3
3
Thames mud
1
4
Valley Drift
f Gravel - , - - -
Running sand - - - -
10
6
14
20
[London
Clay, 2G ft.]
rStone -----
Blue clay - - .
i Sandy clay - -
20
5^
20*
40|
46
/Coloured [mottled] clay -
40
86
Brown sand - - ^ .
2
88
Loam -----
5
93
[Reading
Brown sand ; very little water
3
96
Beds, 92 ft.? J
Loam -----
12
108
Brown and black clay
18
126
Coloured [mottled] clay -
9
135
I Dead green sand - -
3
138
Chalk -
15
153
w. w.
2. Pelham Place.
From Mr. Trench's Note-book. (Memoirs, Vol. iv., p. 425, and Geol.
London, Vol. ii., p. 4.)
Thickness.
Depth.
[L(mdon Clay.] Blue clay and pebbles [at
/•m7.
/ 'r( :
bottom ]] -
142
142
/^Coloured [mottled] clay, red -
15
157
Brown clay -
12
169
Sand . - - - .
1
170
[Reading /
Beds, 80ft.?] ^
Brown clay -
Sand . - - - .
Light-blue clay
7
17
7
177
lw4
201
Sand . - - -
4
205
Coloured [moti iiwl] s.un!
14
219
Stone [Hints?]
3
222
Chalk ....
9
231 .
w. vv
!8i;-!.
K 2
64
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE,
3. The Union, 1852.
From a drawing at the Union, and from specimens in the possession of
Mr. Haines (plumber), Egham. Memoirs, Vol. iv., p. 425, and Geol
Lond. Vol. ii., p. 4.
Shaft 60 feet. Water 35 feet down.
London Clay, rather sandy at 180 ft., and more
so at the bottom [basement-bed], about
Reading Beds, mottled plastic clays from 191
to 198 ft., and brown sand at 226 ft. -
Chalk
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
190
Feet.
190
50?
240?
47 or more.
287 or more.
w. w.
4. The Union. New boring, 1888.
Made and communicated by Messrs. Isler, and from specimens.
Memoir, Geol. Lond., Vol. ii., p. 334.
With pumps fixed 170 feet down the supply was exhausted in ten minutes,
the depth being then 330 feet. When 380 feet deep, the yield was 360
gallons an hour, and at 430 feet this was doubled.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
rDug well (old)
60
[London Clay, 1 Pilue clay. Specimens turned
. —
197 feet.] | brown (flint-pebbles at 90
I and at 154 feet) -
137
197
Mottled clays. Specimens
dark at first, then lighter-
coloured ; brown clay at 212 ;
then light-grey mottled, then
brown
26
223
Clay and dead sand. Speci-
mens brown, sandy clay at
232 ; brown clayey sand
drying hard, at 236 -
12
236
Blowing sand. Specimen of
brown clayey sand, drying
Reading Beds,
hard, at 240 ...
15
250
70 feet.]
Dead sand. Specimen of
sharp clean sand, apparently
washed, at 252 -
4
254
Loamy sand. Specimens,
brown clay at 256 and 260 ;
stone (calcareous sandstone)
at 256^ . . . .
6
260
Mottled clay. Specimens,
brown at 264 ; blackish clay
at 265 ; dark grey messy
clay, with bits of flint, at
\ 265i : flints at 267 -
7
267
Jhalk, with flints
163
430
\\^ w
6ld Windsor — paNgbourne.
(35
5. From Mr. Polvvhelb's Note-Book (? from Dr. J. Mitchells MSS.).
Mevioirs, vol. iv., p. 425 and Geol. London, vol. ii. p. 4.
Thickness.
London Clay - - - -
[Reading Bed.] {^°'^'^,t'cl^,,^
Feet.
168
36
Depth.
Feet.
168
204
W. W.
Pangbourne.
1 to 9. Communicated by Mr. John Higgs.
1. Bere Court.
Water-level, 2^ feet from bottom.
Gravelly loam (described as "washed ^
earth") - 25V 72 feet
Chalk 47j
2. Bere Court Farm.
Water-level, 4 feet from bottom.
Gravel " ^^l 140 feet
Chalk 122/ ^*"^®^^-
3. Cottages on the Basildon Road, Coffee House, Blacksmith's, etc
There are seven wells sunk in the valley gravel, varying from 7 to 13 feet
in depth, with water from 2^ to 4 feet from bottom. At Arts' Cottage,
at the back of the Elei)hant tTotel, 13 feet of gravel was dug through, when
chalk was reached and penetrated to a depth of 10 feet.
4. On the Tidmarsh Road, at Courtlands, Flowers Farm, etc.
There are four wells sunk in chalk, varying from 10 to 15 feet in depth,
with from 2^ to 5 feet of water from the bottom.
5. On the Reading Road.
The Star Inn, School, United Buildings, Dr. Freeman's House, Marsh
Farm, Post OlHce, etc.
There are nineteen wells sunk in valley gravel, varying from 5 to lU feet
in depth, with from 2 to \\ feet of water from l)ott()m.
6. On the Streatley Road.
Gas House, Fuller's Cottage, etc.
There are four wells sunk in valley gravel, varying from 6 to 16 feet in
depth, with from 2i to 4 feet of water from bottom.
7. Upper Bowden Farm.
Water-level 8 feet from bottom.
Brown clay- - - - - - - 10 lo^^ci ^^^^
Chalk- - -195iH^^^^^-
(Hi
WATER SUPPLY OF BEKKSHIKE.
8. Lower Bowden Farm.
Water-level 5 feet from bottom.
J^fdclay ------- l^ Urj^^^^t.
Chalk- ------- i'.m\
9. New Town.
Water-level 12^ feet from bottom.
Gravel and loam - - - - - ' ^^Xoiyrt u
Chalk -------- 203 r 2^ "•
10. Pangbourne Board School.
Dug and communicated by Mr. Samuel Joyce.
Water-level 3 feet from bottom ; rapid supply.
Soil --------- 2
Chalk in beds from 9 to 12 inches in thickness 52.
Rubble chalk with fissures - - - - 10
2.1 64 ft.
oj
Pinkneys.
About 2 miles N.W. of Maidenhead, Ridge Tile Works.
Communicated by Mr. T. Young. (Geol. London, vol. ii. p. 6.)
Thickness.
Depth.
To chalk
Chalk with layers of Hints, chiefly nodular, a
number of large flints a few feet from the
top _ - -
Chalk-rock []]*; with nodules - - . "
Chalk, with many large irregularly disposed
flints
Feet
m
1
104
Feet.
5
65
66
170
* [I doubt whether the bed described as " chalk-rock " is really that
bed, which divides the L^pper and Middle Chalk, but think it rather a
similar hard bed in the Upper Chalk. W. W.]
Reading.
L Brewery. Messrs. Simmonds. 1887?
Made and Communicated by Messrs. Isler.
Dug 4 ft., the rest bored, and tubed for 79 feet. Water-level 5 feet down.
Minimum supply 10,000 gallons an hour.
Thickness.
Depth.
r Gravel and peat
[River Drift] -^Gravel -----
iSand - -
Chalk ------
Feet
4
19
5
122
Feet
23
28
150
READING.
()7
2. Whitley Lodge, Mr. Attenborough's.
Goiiimunicatecl by Dr. J. Shea, Medical Officer of Health.
Abandoned. Xo water.
/ Clay, about 70 ft
London Clay.^g^^^^^^^^^ ,^^^-j
r Iron-pyrites, about lA ft.,
I gravel [pebbles], a few
feet. Iron-pyrites, thinner
than the other bed.
A dead-well was sunk in the basement of a new house situated in the
Bath road, on the south side, at about 150 yards westward of the
entrance to Coley Avenue, where the following section was exposed.
Information obtained on the spot at the time of sinking. J. H. B.
Thickness.
Depth.
'■Gravd? j Pebbly 'and bubangular ttint-
[ReadingBedsll^Si'a'r'"''''''- : -
Ft. in.
1 6
6
10
2
Ft. in.
1 6
7 6
17 6
19 6
4. In garden situated 130 yards south of Christ's Church.
On reaching the sand, the water came in so fast, that the sinkers were
obliged to stop.
Information obtained on the spot. J. H. B.
Gra^\^ r ^®^^^y *"^ subangular flint-gravel to sand 16 feet.
5. In the Nursery Gardens at Lower Redlands, 300 yards south of Portland
Place and 350 yards S. W. of the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
From information on the spot. J. H. B.
Thickness.
Depth.
Valley Gravel, and sand of Reading Beds to^
Chalk. (The details and thicknesses of the [
respective beds were unknown to my infor- j
mant.) j
Chalk, to water ------
Feet.
40
Feet.
40
45
6. In George Street, S.W. of Children's Recreation Ground, and about 30
yards from the curved railway embankment.
Dug and communicated by Mr. S. Joyc^e.
Water-level 5 feet from surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Made ground -------
rSoii- - - - - -
[Alluvium etc.]- Sharp gritty grey sand -
iSilty grey sand to coarse gravel
Feet.
4i
6
10
15
68
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
7. Caversham Road by Railway Bridge, opposite Great Western Railway
Coffee House. Wheeler Bros.' yard on west side of road.
Dug and communicated by Mr. S. Joyce.
Water-level 5 feet from surface.
Made ground -------
{Jr'eat and bog - - - -
Sharp gritty grey river-sand -
Fine gravel, coarser at bottom-
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet,
4
4
2
6
5
11
8
19
8. Swansea Road, Caversham Road. School Board. 1896.
Two test-borings for ascertaining depth for suitable foundations.
Bored and communicated ])y Mr. Alfred Callas.
Thickness.
Depth.
No. 1 Boring.
Ft.
in.
Ft. in.
[Alluvium, 1
etc., 20 feet.] ^
[Soil - . . - -
Gravel
Blue clay . . . -
Ballast [Gravel] -
Running sand - - - -
Ballast [Gravel]
Chalk - - - - -
4
7
2
6
4
4
4
4
4
8
5
12
14
20
24
No. 2 Boring.
[Alluvium, /Blue clay . . . _
etc., 20Heet.]\ Gravel - - - - -
Chalk - - - -. -
9
11
3
6
6
9
20 6
24
9. Crown Nursery. Mr. Holder's London-road. 1899.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Callas, Sons, & May.
Tubed 20 feet with 5-inch tube.
Soil Mould --------- H)
[Valley Drift] Loam and gravel - - - - - - 13| [-
[Upper] Chalk - - - - - - 35 j
50 ft.
10. Katesurove. 1899.
Seven test-borings for foundations of proposed New Church.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Callas, Sons, & May.
No. 1.
Clay ------- - 10\^«r_,
Sand -------- 3|13teet.
No. 2.
Clay -------- 12^
Black mixture ------ gV26feet.
Chalk - - - - - - - - 5j
HEADING — REMENHAM.
69
No. 3.
Clay - - - -
l^lack mixture
Grey sand
Black mixture and clay
Sand - - -
Tioose chalk - - ■
Sand - - - •
Chalk - - - •
Clay - -
Loose chalk -
Clay - -
Light sand -
Green sand -
Clay - - -
Sand
Mottled Clay
Black mixture
Clay -
Green sand and clay
Light-green clay -
Dark-green clay -
Sand
Chalk -
Clay - - -
Black mixture
Loose chalk -
Green saud and clay
Red mottled clay
Green sand -
Chalk
No. 4.
No. 5.
No. H.
No.
9
5
if
3
2h
37 feet.
3 'rl9 teet.
'^)
20^ feet.
8 feet.
1^1 .
2 V 14 teet.
ll
11. W uuDLEY Lodge (3 miles E. of Heading).
.[. lloFE, Trans. Geol. Soc, Ser. 2, vol. v. p. 129 (and Proc. Geol. Sue,
vol. ii. p. 72.) ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ ^j^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^
r ret.
rBlue clay ---""' about 40
[London Clay] J Concrete of sheels and clay [basement-bed] about an
y iuch (with water).
,. ,. T, J 1 [Mottled blue red and white clay
[Readmg Beds] | ^^ ^^^ occasionally sandy
- 55
- 35
Remenham.
1. Park Place (opposite Henley-on-Thames). 1872.
Made and communicated by Mr. R. Paten.
Shaft, 246 feet, the rest bored.
Chalk and flints [? flints in the upper part only] - 480 feet.
70
WATER SUPPLY OF BIJ^RKSHIRE.
2. Hemenham Hill. At Three Elms. 1896.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Alfred Callas.
About 314 feet above Ordnance Datum.
Bored 30 feet from bottom of old dug- well 228 feet in depth, and tubed
with 5 feet of 4-inch tube.
[All in Chalk with the exception of a few feet of Clay-with-tiints at
surface.— J. H. B.]
Ruscombe.
1. Mr. Cotterell's. 1893.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Alfred Callas.
Thickness.
Depth.
[Reading Beds.] Clay and sand
[Upper Chalk.] Chalk, with flints -
Feet
32
38
Feet.
32
70
2. The Kiln. 1894.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Callas.
Old dug- well [39 feet in Reading Beds and 16 feet in
Chalk, from information on the spot.— J. H. B.l - 55^ o/» ^ i.
Boring m Chalk - - - - - - - - 25/^^ ^^^*-
Sandhurst.
Wellington College. Trial-boring, 1866-68 {Memoirs^ vol. iv., p. 425).
Communicated by Messrs. Easton ife Amos.
[Bagshot Beds] (
Brown sand and stone [surface-earth]
Red sand
Blue sand
Pebbles -
Yellow sand -
Loamy clay -
Pebbles -
Green sand
Green sand and shells
Marly clay
White marl -
Clay - - -
Sand
[? Passage - bedl
between the '
London Clay ) Brown loamy sand
and the Bag-
shot Sand.]
Thickness.
[London Clay]-
relay
j Stiff
clay
Chalk reached at
Feet.
1
12
10
1
6
9
3
31
i2
13|
46
12
34
3
25
10
Depth.
Feet.
1
13
23
24
30
39
42
73
80
80^
83^
86
100
146
158
192
195
220
230
603
W. VV.
SANDHURST.
71
Prof. T. R. Jones has given me the following note (? of the same well),
dated Dec, 1865. y/^^^
Yellow sand and pebbles. —
Green fia,nd; lyyYites, Osti-ea, Cythti-ea - - at 28
Bits of lignite ------ „ 40
Grey sand ------ „ 50
Dark green sand - - - - - - „ 60
Green sand full of Cardita j^lanicosta - - „ 70
Lignite and Cardita -."'"" » '^^
Grey clayey sand with lignite - - - „ 80
Inifjure pipe clay - - - - - „ 80-82
Grey clay ------- „ 82
Since the publication of the section of the deep-boring here, further infor-
mation has come to hand. An account communicated by Mr. Baldwin
Latham agrees with the published one, except in some details of the
descriptipn of the beds (colour, etc.), and describes the beds below 230 feet
(which are not described in the Memoir) as follows :
Coloured Clays. [London Clay, almost wholly at least] - 307 feet.
[Reading Beds.] Clays and green sand - - - - 66 „
Chalk ----------- 84 „
Another account in the iiui Annual Re2XA^t Wellington College Nat. Hist.
Soc, pp. 24-26 (1871) gives the section below.
Thickness.
Depth.
Surface Soil.
Sand and sandstone [? tirm
sand], with fragments of
iron-pyrites. At a depth of
37 feet a bed of black pebbles.
A bed of lignite - about
Green sand and clay ; at first
sandy and only slightly gi*een
(8 ft.) ; then hardened dark
green clay (6 ft.). Veneri-
cardia planicosta, 5-7 and
15 ft. dowu-
Greyish laminated clay -
r Brown and grey sands -
Clay with stones \] septaria]
every 5 ft. ; flint pebble, 229
ft. down . - . .
Liver-coloured clays at a deptli
of 500 ft. - - . -
Mottled clays at a depth of
538 ft. - . . .
Greenish clay at a depth of
570 ft., getting more sandy,
showing traces of chalk at a
depth of 586 ft., which be-
come more plentiful until
chalk is reached -
Chalk [according to Sir F. Bramwell]
[? Upi)er Bag-
shot, and (?)
Ih-acklesham
Beds.]
[Bracklesham
Beds.l
[Lower Bag-
«hot.]
[London Clay.] -
[Heading Beds.](
Feet.
63
17
2
110
288
130
Feet.
63
80
82
192
480
604
734
The following particulars communicated by Sir F. Bramwell.
About 300 feet above Ordnance Datum. Shaft, 250 feet, the rest bored.
When not pumping, the water rises to within 50 feet of surface, but is
lowered by pumping to 157 feet 9 inches, yielding 40 to 50 gallons a minute.
Maximum yield calculated at about 1,100 gallons an hour (letter from
Mr. C. J. Lambert). W. W.
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
3. Ambarrow. Col. Harvey's. 1884.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Edward Margrett.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet
' Clay, marl, and sand
10
10
Green and grey sand with water
6
16
Bracklesham
Green sand and clay, very hard
Beds, }
and tough - - - -
10
26
55 ft. 6 in.
Grey and green sand with water
8
34
Green sand and clay
12i
461
Tough clay - - - -
9i
55.|
Lower Bagshot ~
Beds.
Clay and sand with water
8i
63f
Shinfield.
1. The Grove. Miss Hulme, 1889.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Alfred Callas
Water obtained in black sand at 171 feet from the surface, and it
rose 70 feet.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
Drift. Soil and gravel - - - - -
, /Yellow clay - . - .
20
20
3
23
Blue clay- - - . -
147
170
London Clay, J Loam -----
1
171
164 ft.
Black sand and shells, with
4-inch hard stone at 181 ft.
V [basement-bed] -
13
184
Possibly the above boring may have penetrated 3 feet into sand of the
Reading Beds. J. H. B.
2. Mr. Hutching's. 1888.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Alfred Callas.
Water obtained at 75 feet, and it rose to within 17^ feet of the surface.
Soil, etc.
London Clay,
85^ ft.
Yellow and brown clay -
Blue hard stone [septaria]
Blue clay
Black sand and shells [base-
ment-bed] - - - -
89 6
3. Well about a quarter of a mile W; of the church, 1887.
Boring made and communicated by Mr. Callas.
Water rose nearly to surface.
( Blue clay ----- 90 feet.
London Clay \ Black sand [basement-bed] with
water
10(?) feet.
SH< )TTESBR( JO K — SHRl V EN HAM .
78
Shottesbrook.
Shottesbrook Park. 1897.
Made and communicated by Messrs. Tilley ct vSons.
Boring 10-inch. Good supply.
Sub-soil 2\q^ o.
[Upper] Chalk ^gr^ ^^^t'
Shrivenham.
1. Shrivenham House. (Viscount Barrington.) 1877.
Boring made and communicated by Mr. Edward Margrett (of Reading).
Particulars from coloured-section drawn to a scale of 4 feet to au inch.
Water-level about 13 feet below the surface.
,
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft. In.
Ft. In.
f Loamy clay and sand
Quicksand
-
9
9
-
•2 3
11 3
* [Upper
Sandy clay
-
9
12
Corallian (the
Blue clay with sand
-
18
30
top 30 ft.
]]rown clay with sand
2 3
32 3
included with
Stiff clay with shells
-
-
10
42 3
doubt.]
Light corallian stone
-
■
6
42 9
Blue rock with yellow
crystals
10 6
53 3
t Light coloured clay-
-
-
1 6
54 9
[Lower
f Light blue clay with beds
of
Corallian.]
(sand ; with water -
■
"
15 3
70
* Classification by Mr. H. B. Woodwai*d.
.Vnother version of the same Boring as the above, from a coloured-section
drawn to a scale of 8 feet to an inch by the Architect, Mr. Griggs (of
London), and communicated by Mr. Edward Marcjrett.
Thickness.
Depth.
< Ferruginous sand with oc-
Feet.
Fttt.
casional bands of ironstone
and "race"
Hi
lU
Sand with clav
-f
12
Clay and sand
3
15
Pure clay . . . .
15
30
Mottled clay with minute
crystals and oolitic grains -
2
32
[Upper Coral- \
Blue clay with minute shells
3
35
lian.]
Blue limestone rock with
fossils - - - -
7
42
White rock - - - -
-h
42i
White rock with occasional
-
bands of sand, and with
thin layer of argillaceous
I shale at base
9*
52
[Lower Coral-
lian.]
^Blue clay and sand
17
69
Xote on Drawing] It is conjectured that the Oxford Clay Avould V)e
reached about 50 or 60 feet lower dowai.
74
WATEK SITPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
2. Mr. a. W. Faiethorpe';^. 1877.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Edward Marcirett.
Water-level 14 feet from surface.
i Thick ti OSS. Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
/ Sandy loam - - - -
7
i
Mottled clays
22
29
Brown clay and sand -
1
30
Blue stone - . - -
2
32
[Upper Coral- {
lian.]
Dark clay - - ~ .
Blue stone - - . -
1
1
33
34
Stone and thin layers of sand
6
40
•
Blue clay and stone
-i
40o
Stone
5
45|
.Blue stone
-i
46
3. Beckett House. 1878.
Made and communicated by Messrs. Thomas Tilley & Sons.
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft.
in.
Ft.
in.
Made ground .
G
Brown race - - - -
5
5
G
Hard red rock
9
()
3
[Upper Coral -
lian.]
Brown loamy sand and water
\ Blue clay - - . .
2
15
11
10
9
25
2
i Shell-bed - - . .
1
1
26
1
i,Hard blue rock
17
43
1
' Blue loamy sand -
37
11
81
[Lower Coral- ,
lian.]
Limestone rock
3
6
84
G
Blue loamy sand -
23
6
108
Light sandstone rock -
4
6
112
6
^ Blue loamy sand -
i
120
Sonning.
1. Holme Park, at the Lodge.
Dug and communicated by Mr. S. Joyce.
AYater-level 4 to G feet above bottom.
Gravel ------
Reading Beds (clay, &c.)
Chalk ------
In digging through every layer of flint in the chalk in the above well,
such a t3ad smell was emitted, that the men were obliged to come to the
surface.
10-12 V54 feet.
42j
2. Sonning Water- works, near the S.W. corner of Holme Park. 1892-3.
Tube-well 75 feet in depth, and lined with 60 feet of 5-inch iron tube.
Bored by Mr. Alfred Callas.
Water-level about 10 or 11 feet from surface. Yield 70 to 99 gallons per
minute. {See p. 108.)
Drift] Loam, about - - - - - 10\^.
[Upper] Chalk with flints - - - - G5J '''
feet.
SONNTNG — STANFORD DTXGLEY.
75
A paper giving full particulars of the above Water- works was written bj-
Dk. Ashby (Medical Officer of Health for Reading, etc.) and publisilied in
^' Puhllc Health,'^ May, 1895, p. 285; from which the above information and
following extract are taken : —
" Below the end of the lining, several layers of flint were penetrated
. . . . so water enters very freely In order to try the
yield of water a centrifugal pump was fixed to the suction-tube and worked
by steam-power for 24 hours without intermission, when water was raised
at an average rate of about 70 gallons a minute. At the end of that time,
with the engine working at its full power, a tank holding 198 gallons was
filled in exactly two minutes, or at the rate of 99 gallons a minute. The pump
was then removed, and five minutes after the engine was stopped water
stood in the bore-hole at exactly the same height it did before the pumping
commenced. It was evident that the boring would have yielded a larger
quantity of water if more power had been at command."
3. French Horn Hotel.
Dug and communicated by Mr. S. Joyce.
Water-level 2 feet from surface.
Alluvium, /Loamy soil -
itc.
(Sand
.^1}
15 feet.
Sotwell.
1. Sotwell Hill. (Mr. A. D. Well's.) 1894.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Alfred Callas.
Tubed G5 feet with 5-inch tube.
Water-level 97 feet from surface.
Mould and yellow clay
Loose rubble -
Soil
[Lower Chalk]
[Upper Green- j j^^^j,
sand, 75 feet] [j^^^^^^ ^nd layers of stone
[Gault] Slate-coloured clay -
r Green sand and loam
2. Slade End. (Mr. Morphew's.) 1895.
Bored and communicated by >[r. Alfred Callas.
Tubed 40 feet with 5-inch tube.
Water-level 54 feet from surface.
Soil, etc. G )
[Upper Greensand] Dmb rubble - - - G8 -83 feet.
[Gault?] Blue rubble - - - 9j
Stanford Dingley.
1. Tanyard.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Piper, of Bucklebury.
t Valley Gravel] Gravel ----- 7 feet.
Upper Chalk] Chalk,
76
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
2. Jennet Hill.
8unk and communicated by Mr. Piper.
[Reading Beds] 35 feet deep, with oyster shells at bottom. F. J. B
3. Jennet Hill. (For Bradfield District Council.) 1900.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Callas, Sons, & May.
Tubed 30 feet with 5-inch tube, and 50 feet with 4-inch tube.
Water level 40^ feet from the surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
Soil Mould - - - -
-
2
2
[Drift] Gravel - - - -
-
1
3
/ Mottled clay -
27
30
Running mottled sand -
~
G
36
[Reading Beds, J Brown clay -
1
37
42 feet] \ Green sand and shells
water - - - -
\Blue clay
and
-
5
42
-
3
45
Chalk -------
-
46
91
London
4. Half a Mile S.E. of the Church.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Piper.
Clav^^^'^^^^^^'^y ------
^ (Black clay and shells [Basement-bed J -
^Jjsi feet.
F. J. B.
Stanford-in-the-Vale.
Stanford Park Farm, eastward of the Village. 1896.
Made and communicated l^y Messrs. Le Grand & Sutclifp.
Water-level 9 inches down. Yield 350 gallons an hour.
Thickness.
Depth.
Well ... - -
' Blue clay and shells with 6
rKimpriVlrro iuches of stouc at the basc -
^ rwi " B'^"d ^f »tone, clay, and sliells
<-layJ- - Blue clay and shells -
, Sandy clay
[Corallian] - {1^^ ] [ ] : :
Feet.
Ill
13
17
3
Zh
I
Feet.
12
39
52
69
72
l^}
76
8TRATFIELD MORTIMER.
11
Stratfield Mortimer.
1. Perrins Farm. 1893.
Bored and communicated liy ^Fr, At.pred Callas.
Water rises to within 49 feet of the surface.
♦Shaft GO feet.
Thickness.
Depth.
{ Yelh)\v clay - - - -
lou leetj - (^^.g^j^ ^^j ^l^^j^ ^^^^^ |-3^^g_
ment-bed] - - - -
[Reading Beds, /Yellow sand • - ?] -
5 feet] - ( Rock [indurated sand -
Feet.
18
1
130
5
2
3
Feet,
18
19
155
160
16-2
165
2. Little Park Farm. 1894.
Bored aiul communicated' Vjy Mr. Alfred Call as.
\Vater rises to within alxjut 20 feet from the surface.
Sh;ifl 3«) feet ; tlif ivst bored.
Du^r-wi
142 feet]
flcadiii-li-d
Thickness.
Depth.
„
Feet.
Feet.
-
30
30
Loam and yeHow clay -
IV, Blue clay
20
50
iir>
165
- ] Peb])les - - - -
iBlack and <.'reen sand -
166
6
172
s. Stone and yellow san<l
- 1 4
176
At Cottaoks X.K, of Railway Station, 1804.
IJored and t'omniunicated by y\\i. Alfred Callas.
Water rises to within 30 feet of the surface
Thickness.
Depth.
ry 1 fi] r Brown and V)lue day with
•- i?n r .1 ^^' basement-bed consisting of
130teet| - I black and green sand -
Ferf.
130
F<ef.
130
SSl.%
78
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
4. Oakfield, Mr. G. W. Tyser. 1899.
Made and comnmnicated by Messrs. Callas, Sons, & May.
Shaft, 80 feet ; the rest bored.
Water-level 60 feet from the surface. {See p. 108
.)
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet
Feet.
^Clay - - - -
122
122
TT ^ A rn Basement-bed of running
134 fh ''^^^^■'' ^'^^^'^ ^^^^ h\^^\ii^
•-' sands, and shells, and a
I little water - - - -
12
134
/Mottled hard and dry clay,
crimson, grey, yellow, brown
.
and light blue
46
180
Mottled clay, fine sand and
loam -----
8
188
[Reading Beds,
Mottled clay, very hard -
4
192
69 ft.] \
Mottled grey sands (water rose
to within 71 ft. of surface
•^
of ground) - - - -
Dark blue clay
4
196
3
199
Very fine blackish sand and
I loam -----
4
203
[Upper Chalk] Chalk
50
253
5. The Vicarage. 1888.
Bored by Mr. Callas. Information obtained on the spot by J. H. B.
Water-level 79 feet from surface. Water reached at 169 feet, and rose 90 feet.
Tubed to 125 feet.
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft. in.
Ft. in.
ry 11 r Brown loam - - - -
Inam Afo J Subangular gravel, with a layer
14 ft 1 1 ^^ ^^^1^' ^^ ^^^^' ^^«*^y
'J [ univalves, resting on clay -
13
13
1
14
/Dark grey clay, brownish in
part, lignite at 130 ft.
Septaria at 35 ft. and 106 ft.
from surface
136
150
Black argillaceous sand, most
clayey in upper part, lignite
at 151 and shark's tooth at
*
153 ft. -
12
162
'Green sand inter-
mixed with dark
London Clay;
grey clay -
10
172
164i ft.] ^
Basement ,
Green sand inter-
mixed with dark
grey clay, with
fragments of
shells -
Bed. ^
6
178
Hard layer of grey
limestone, casts
of shells, lignite
and pyrites, and
thin ferruginous
\
V seam at base
6
178 6
[Reading Bedsj
'Mottled green, grey and brown
. clay
n ft 1
7 6
186
STRATFIELD MORTIMER — STREATLEY.
79
6. The Vicarage. (Another well and boring on higher ground.) 1898,
Made and communicated by Mr. Alfred Callas,
Shaft 4^ feet in diameter and 130 feet in depth, the rest bored and lined
with 4-inch tube.
Water-level 112 feet from the surface.
Depth,
relay
, < Black sand and shells [Base-
[London Clay,
200^ feet] ' [ ment-bed]
f Mottled clay -
52tteetj [Running sand
Feet,
185
240
243
251
253
Streatley.
1 to 23. Communicated by Mr. John Higgs, of Basildon.
1. BuRNHAM House.
Water-level 4 feet from bottom.
Soil, mould, etc. 5 \^^i f^.
Chalk 6Ur^* ^®®*-
2. Hill House.
Water-level 4^ feet from bottom.
S^, mould, etc. _- _._-... ^^^^ ^^^^
3. The Beeches.
Water-level 4^ feet from bottom.
Soil, " washed earth," etc. .... 12\q. r^ ,
Chalk - - - ' 72/®^ ^«®*-
4. Well near Chapel.
Water-level 3 feet from bottom.
Soil, " washed earth," etc. - - - - 28 \,,- r.
Chalk- - - ^^Iniieet
5. Cottage higher up than above.
Water-level 3^ feet from bottom.
Soil, " washed earth," etc. - - - - 19),oq|.. .
Chalk- --'.-.-- 109/^2® ^*^^*-
6. Warren Farm.
Water-level 4 feet from bottom.
Chalk 120 feet.
7. Townsend Farm.
Water-level 4| feet from bottom.
Soil, " washed earth." etc. - - - - 51 ^^ r.
Chalk - - - ' 61/^^ *®®^-
3813. F 2
-so WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
8. Holders Cotta(;es, Chesnut Cottage, Place Farm, ]£lm Lodge
House, Gould's House, etc.
There are seven wells sunk in chalk, varying from 48 to 66 feet in depth,
with water from 4 to 42 feet from bottom.
9. PoHT Office and four other Cottages.
These five wells are sunk through gravel, and vary from 15 to 44 feet in
depth, and contain from 2 to 4 feet of water from bottom.
10. Blacksmith's Shop.
Water-level 3 feet from bottom.
Soil, mould, etc. - 4\^, f^.
Chalk - - - 57 r^^^^^-
11. Keeper's House.
Water-level Hh feet from bottom.
Soil, mould, etc.- ----- 81 -.,^i?^ .
Chalk- - 202^^^^^^^-
12. Manor Farm, Southridge.
Water-level 10 feet from bottom.
Ked loam ------- 20\ .^^^ . .
Chalk ------- 248j 268teet.
13. Southridge Farm.
Water-level 6 feet from bottom.
Cla5;,^with flints ; ; ; ; ; ^1^} ui feet.
14. Streatley Farm.
Water-level 6 feet from bottom.
Gravel -------- 27 feet.
15. Streatley Farm Cottagj:s.
Water-level 3 feet from bottom.
Gravel- - - - - - - - 8\ ^, r ^,
Chalk - - - - - - - - 43J ^^ ^^^^•
16. Field Barn.
Water-level 3 feet from bottom.
Soil, " washed earth," etc. - - - - 8\ ^.^^ r^.
Chalk -------- 89J ^^ *^^^-
17. Rectory Cottages.
Water-level 8j feet from bottom.
Soil, "washed earth," etc. - - - - 7\Q,ir .
Chalk- ------ .74/«l^*^^*-
18. Rectory Farm.
Water-level 10 feet from bottom.
Soil. " washed earth," etc. - - • - 8\ q^, f^.
Chalk .---..-- 77/ ^'' *^^^'
!^TRI!ATLEY— THATCHAM.
81
19. Westridge Farm.
Water-level 13 feet from bottom.
Loam and flints ----- 15l«i/^r--J.
Chalk ------- 325/ '^'*'-' ^®^^-
20. Westridge Green Farm.
Water-level 11 feet from bottom.
Loam and flints
Chalk -
31'
n
32G feet
21. Gould's Farm.
Water-level 2 feet from bottom.
Ijoam
Chalk
^g^} 176 feet.
22. KiDDiNGTON Bottom.
Water-level It?, feet from 1)ottom.
Chalky soil
Chalk -
-1 142 feet.
137 j
23. Woods Farm.
Water-level 12 feet from bottom.
Loam
Chalk
gg| 105 feet.
Sunninghill.
iVRMiTAGE Hill. 1867.
Made and communicated by Messrs. Tilley.
Thickness.
{Light sand
Brown saiid - - - -
Light - green sand (full of
water) - . . .
sand
Bed''] ^tat
Depth.
Feet
2
8
39
Thatcham.
1. The Vicarage.
Boring made and communicated by Edward Margrett (of Reading).
Water rose 2 feet above surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Flint-gravel
Reading Beds -
Chalk -
Feet.
8
77
15
Feet.
8
85
100
B^
WATER SUPPLY OF BEl^KSHIRE,
2. Mr. Henry's Paper Mills. 1897.
Made and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand & SuTCLiFi*.
Water rose 25 feet above the surface, and flowed, at the surface, at th^
rate of 60 gallons a minute.
Thickness.
Depth.
[River Drift] Ballast [gravel] - - - -
[ReadingBeds](gt-t5;;lf ?'^^ I :
Chalk and flints
Feet.
19
61
8
27
Feet,
19
80
88
115
w. w.
S. I'rom Prestwich's " Water-bearing Strata," p. 67 (1851).
Water rose to the surface, at the rate of 200 gallons a minute.
Grravel and Tertiary beds - - - loo) , ^o ^4.
Chalk . - 3} 103 ft.
4. Mr. a. H. Tull's. 1893.
Boi'ed and commnnicated by Mr. Edward Margrett.
Tubed 68 feet. Water-level 13^ feet from the surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft. in.
Ft. in.
[Valley Drift] -
Gravel
14 6
14 6
r Yellow sand - - - -
9
23 6
Mottled clay - - - -
9 6
33
[Reading Beds,H
Green sand - - - -
26 8
59 8
m feet.]
Pebble-bed - - . -
4
60
I Dark-green shelly clay -
2
62
[Upper] - -
Chalk with flints -
40
102
Theale.
1. Mr. Blatch's Brewery.
1872.
Piped 120 feet down from surface, 10-inch pipe down to 22 feet, then 8-inch
for the remainder.
Water-level 3 feet down from surface. By continual pumping reduced the
water to 12 feet from surface, but never lower.
Thickness.
Depth.
Made gi-ound, soil, loose stones and clay -
Coarse gravel with a little sand and clay -
Sand
Bubbly soft chalk [detritus 1], soft and brown
in colour
Chalk with flints
Feet.
3
7
8
15
140
THE ALE — THREE MILE CROSS.
83
2. In the village there are five public puQips, each bored down to 30 feet ;
being about 15 feet of valley gravel and discoloured soft chalky matter, and
about 15 feet of chalk with flints.
Three Mile Cross.
1. Great Lea Farm. 1882.
Boring made and communicated by Mr. Edward Margrett.
Water rose to 12 feet below surface.
London Clay and Reading Beds - - - 80 feet.
2. Great Lea House. Mr. Body. 1894.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Alfred Callas.
Bored from bottom of old well 18 feet deep, shaft afterwards deepened to
32 feet.
Water rises to within 18 feet of surface.
Depth.
Old shaft [Gravel over clay]
[London Clay, /Clay
81 feet.] (Black sand [Basement-bed] -
[Heading Beds, / Mottled clay - - - -
55 feet.] (Mottled sand - - - -
3. MiTFORD Coffee Tavern.
Boring made and communicated by Mr. Edward Margrett (of Beading).
Water rose to about 15 feet below the surface.
London Clay and Reading Beds - - - 90 feet.
Sand and pebbles at base [probably all London Clay and its basement-
Wl-J. H. B.]
4. Mr. Wyeth's. 1897.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Alfred Callas.
Tubed with 50 feet of 4-inch tube.
Water rose to within 4 feet of the surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
Soil - - -
Mould - - -
-
2
2
[Drift] -
Gravel and water -
-
4
6
( Yellow clay -
-
3
9
Sand - - -
-
1
10
[London Clay,
Blue clay
-
50
60
66 feet]
TGreen
sand
rT^oco^^r,+ \.c.AiJ aiid shells -
l[Basement^bed]^gj^^j^ sand
2
62
[ and loam -
10
72
[Reading Beds]
Yellow sand -
-
^
76^
84
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE
Tilehurst,
1. Calcot Gardens, north of Calcot Grange.
Communicated by Mr. 8. Joyce.
Shaft bricked 32 feet down. Sui)ply 500 gallons per hour.
Feet
[Reading Bed
9 "
(Day
s, I Yell
1 Green sand, with layer of large Hints
I at base
])ark-grey clay -
el low and white sand
/ feet]
^Uoiu nAf ..4- f Chalk (dug 4' in diameter) -
halk, 120 feet.| ^^ ^^^^^'^^^ ^^.j^^^ ^_^^ >^^^^^^,^
14
9
4
00
GO
147
± TiLEiiURsT Common.
Most of the cottages on Tilehurst Common are sujjplied with water from
surface- wells. One of the dee]jest that I saw sunk is situated
300 yards south of the " ]>ird in Hand," and 350 yards south-east of
the Independent Chapel, on the south side- of the road.
Water-level, 7 feet from surface of ground.
Information obtained on the spot. -J. H. B.
Plateau gravel, etc. Gravel and loam -
13 ft.
There is a well situated a little more than 200 yards W.8.W. of the
Independent Chapel, on the west side of the road, where the water-level is
only 4 feet from the surface of the gi'ound.
3. "Newdams." 1894.
Dug and communicated by Mr. Samuel Joyce.
Water reached at 154i feet from the surface ; rose 9 feet in quick
time at finish.
Thickness.
]3epth.
Ft. in.
Ft. in.
rSoil, etc.
[Drift] - - \ Gravel mixed with strong red
I clay
1 6
1 6
4 G
G
i^Clay and sand -
5
11
Sand (builders')
G 6
17 6
Brown sandy loam -
4
21 G
[Reading Beds,/ Sharp red sands, pebbles at
20 ft. (5 in.]
bottom -
Dark green san<l with large
3
24 6
I flints
2
2G G
[UpperChalk] Chalk, with flints
140
16G 6
TILEHURST.
85
4. Mk. Rupert Clark's.
Well dug and coiniiiunicated by Mr S. Joyce.
Tliickiies
Depth.
[London Clav,
44| ft.]
[Readin<
Beds,
51 ft.]
Chalk, Oi'^l It
/ riouglied land [soil]
"S^'llow clay - - - -
f^)lii(' i-];i> - - - -
lirowii clay - - - -
Mottled clay mixed willi s.yud -
J>ro\vu clay - - - -
'm.'ivcii >aiid aud
.lir||>
Mixture «'l' clay
r,, , I aud ishiim -lass
[Lasenicntj , ^^.i,,,;,,. | ' .' .
wA^^Ji,, n i:-ek, fcather-
litt..ini.] edged one side of
well, other side -
Round ]>c])blcsaud
.and -
''(Jrcy sand (sharp) -
Veliow sands - - -
Jilue clay slate in thin l»cds -
\ Jjrown clay, loamy -
Clrey running sand -
Creen sands mixed witii mavd
[pcl)Mes?]' - - - -
I Chalk - . - . -
lied of Hints - - -
I Chalk, with few llini^ -
Water level . . - .
Ft. ui.
Ft.
in
2 U
•>
•1
(J
4 U
10
(;
IG
1 1
30
li u
'S'2
4
1)
38
'4-2
44 y
It)
GO
9
G
Gl
3
ij
70
3
14
84
3
10
94
3
•)
96
3
4
100
3
<)
101
~)S
()
ir)9
5. Westgrove Brickyako. Messrs. Higi;. and Sons.
Dug aud communicated hy Mr. 8. Joyce, 1890.
Water rose to 4 feet standing; level.
Thickness
Depth.
Sod
/ Ih'own clay - - - -
Sand (tit for laiilding |)ur|»oscs)
, ,, T Black clay
[Headmg ' •'
Bc.l
\ Sharji grit sand, witli layers of
oyster shells
Green sand, last foot Jiiixed
with stones - - - -
[Upper Chalk] Chalk-with-Hints -
I'Wt.
1
.")
20
38
Fert.
1
G
26
31
33
38
86
WATER SUPPLY OP BERKSHIRE.
6. Messrs. Wheeler Bros.' Pottery.
Communicated by Mr. S. Joyce.
Shaft 4 ft. in diameter to a depth of 150 ft. with bell-shaped bottom 6 ft. in
diameter, bored 50 ft. additional. Bore-pipe 4 ft. above the 150 ft.
Bricked 30 ft. from surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
[Reading Beds](
Chalk -
^Sand
Grey clay - - - -
Mottled blue and brown clay -
Stiff red clay - - - -
Grey sand with flints, fishes'
^ teeth and shells -
Feet.
4
8
5
1*
180
Feet.
13J^
18J
20
200
7. Westwood House (Mr. Sutton's).
Communicated by Mr. S. Joyce.
Shaft 4 ft. in diameter, bricked 75 ft. from surface. Land-springs
met with to a depth of 32 ft. from surface.
Level of water 4 ft. from bottom.
Depth.
[Plateau /Soil and gravel - - -
Gravel, 10 ft.]\ Clayey gravel - - - -
[London /Loamy brown clay -
Clay (?) 13 ft.] \Dark blackish-blue clay -
f Mottled grey and red clay
Red clay - - - -
[Reading J Coarse red sharp sand
Beds, 47 ft.] \ Light buff sand
Clean white sand -
I, Green sand with flints
Chalk. (At 160 ft., 11 inches of white sand was
met with.)
Feet.
2
10
15
23
32
30
40
56
64
70
164
Details of Reading Beds given from memory.
8. Roebuck Inn.
Communicated by Mr. S. Joyce.
Water, 5 ft. above bottom.
Chalk
90 ft
TiLfiHllRSf — TWYt'ORD.
87
D. TiLEHURST AND Pangbourne Water- WORKS. Kentwood Kiln.
Dug and communicated by Mr. Samuel Joyce.
Water-level 86 feet from surface. Slow supply.
Thickness.
Depth.
rvf^^Ai vtr^Ac-] fLoam and sand, with layer of
[ReadmgBeds]| large flints at base - -
Chalk and flints (lumps of
pyrites at 109 ft), thin layers
of flint at 110 ft., then very
thick beds of chalk 4 to 5 ft.
in thickness, with very thin
joints between each bed ;
flints became thicker and
closer towards the bottom) -
Feet
20
Feet
20
[Upper Chalk]
186
206
Twyford.
1. Mr. Gardner.
Bored and conmiunicated by Mr. Alfred Callas.
Water-level 35 ft. from surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Reading Beds. Yellow clay and sand
Chalk, with flints
Feet
29
41
Feet
29
70
2. The Vicarage. 1891.
Made and communicated by Mr. Edward Margrett.
Dug-well 25 feet, the rest bored and tubed 27i feet below bottom of well.
Water-level 57^ feet from surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
[Drift] - Ballast [gravel] - - - -
' Mottled clay - - - -
Dark-blue clay - - .
Yellow clay - - - -
r-D««^^v,„ ■Dr.A^ 1 Sand and water - . -
f^^a^^'^'-^ellowclay - - - -
TDark clay
r-D^4-4-«rv. v.«^iJBlack stones
[Bottom-bed]-^ and green-
ly coated flints -
[Upper Chalk, f Pastv chalk - - - -
35 feet] \ Hard chalk with layers of flint
30 feet]
Feet
25
11
2
7
1
6
3
3^
3lJ
Feet
25
36
38
45
46
52
55
58i
90
88
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Wallingford.
1. Anchor Brewery. 1883.
Made aiul communicated by Messrs. Le Grand & Sutcliff.
Water-level H feet below surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft.
ill.
Ft.
in.
[Valley Gravel] Dug-well -
_
-
11
Sand
-
11
22
Blue clay-
.
4
26
Stiff blue clay and
stones
10
3G
Blue clay-
-
10
4G
[Upper
Soft sandstcjne
-
(J
46
6
Greensand.]
Green sand
-
G
47
Soft sandstone
_
1
48
G
Sand
-
G
49
Soft sandstone
_
1
<>
50
G
Grey marl
-
G
51
2. Waterworks, in field west of railway station. 1884.
Made and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand tt Sutcliff.
Shaft 10| ft., the rest bored. Water-level 5^ ft, beneath the surface.
Yield 100 gallons per minute, or 60,000 gallons per day of 10 hours.
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft. in.
Ft. in.
[Soil, etc.] Dug-well - - - -
2 6
2 G
^ ^larly sand - - - -
10 G
13
Soft sandstone-
3
16
[ Upper , Hard sandstone
8 G
24 6
Greensand.] ^ Blue stone and clay -
22 3
46 9
Hard blue stone
6 6
53 3
\ Blue sandy clay
2
55 3
Waltham St. Lawrence.
1. Brewery House, Castle Street. 1894.
Bored and communicated by ^ir. Alfred Callas.
Water rises to within 20 ft. of the surface.
Depth.
Soil -
Drift.
Gravel with water
[Basement- T Green loam and shells
bed of London-! Rock, water under this
Clay, 10 ft.]
[Reading-
Beds, 61 ft.]
Chalk
iSand and pebbles
Mottled clay -
Yellow running sajid
Mottled clay -
Mottled running sand -
j Mottled clay -
i Hard blue clay
^ Green sand, clay and shells
Feet.
4
16
20
22
26
42
50
60
65
70
80
87
104
WALTHAM 8T. LAWRENCE — WANTAGE.
89
2. The Dene. Mrs. Wodeliouse. 1899.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Callas, Sons, S: May.
Tubed 6 feet with 6-inch cast-iron pipe.
Old dug-well ------ 181 .
Chalk and flints ------ 3o|-i« ^eet-
Wantage.
1. Wantage Brewery Co. 1889-90.
Communicated by Messrs. C. Isler tfe Co. ;* and from specimens examined
by Mr. H. B. Woodw^vrd and Mr. A. Strahan.
Jurassic Eocks of Britain, vol. v., pp. 126, 127.
Dug-well or shaft 46 ft., the rest bored.
Water-level 83 ft. from the surface, supply abundant from 3-inch tube.
Thickness.
Depth.
[Upper
Greensand,
46 ft.]
[Gault,
229 ft.]
[Kimeridge
Clay? 94ft.]
[Corallian
Beds, ? 77 ft.
Chalky and Sandy Beds
[Dug-well] -
Grey, slightly micaceous and
calcareous - - - -
Hard Clay, with band of
sandstone at depth of 68 ft.
Clay with Sand Seams :
coarse (luartz gi-ains and peb-
bles of nard siliceous rock -
THard Green Sand : grey clay
with decayed shells at 280 -
Hard Dark Clay : with de-
cayed shells at 320, and
fibrous carbonate of lime
/ (" beef '*) at 354 -
Hard Olay with Shells :
greenish-grey clay with de-
cayed shells at 360
Hard Clay - - - -
Hard Stony Clay
Rock : white marly rock at 373
Clay : stiif grey marly clay at
377, and white marly rock at
378
Rock : dark shelly clay with
Pecten or Lima at 397 -
LiCxHT Grey Sand : crumbly
calcareous rock at 404 -
Rock : white calcareous rock
at 405
Dark Green Loamy Sand .-
calcareous gritty rock at 409
Hard Blue Clay : grey shelly
clay at 410 - - - -
Rock : white chalky rock at
416, and bits of Ostrea, some
pyritic, at 434
Light Grey Sand : greenish
calcareous sandy bed at 435
Dark Grey Loamy Sand :
greenish calcareous sandy
bed at 450 - - - -
Ft. in.
46
229
8
1
Ft. in.
46
275
4 I 279
I
28:
358
5 363
9 372
1 373
3 376
i 20
396
7
403
i I
6
404
6
3
3
407
9
5
3
4b3
1 3
416
1
1 18
6
434
6
3
1
6
438
!
' 12
450
* The information given by Messrs. Isler is put in capitals, to distinguish
it from the notes which were made from the specimens.
90
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
The water from the Corallian Beds in the above boring did not prove
satisfactory for brewing purposes, and Mr. G. Martin, the manager of the
Wantage Brewery Company, informed Mr. A. J. Jukes-Browne " that in
August, 1898, they sank a new shaft to a depth of 32 feet, and from it drove
two tunnels through the sandy marl, [at the base of the Malmstone (Upper
Greensand)] going 80 feet in one direction and 20 feet in an opposite one ;
they met with several good springs, and by this means obtained a sufficient
supply of suitable water without going to a greater depth." See, " The
Cretaceous Rocks of Britain," Mem. Geol. Survey, by A. J. Jukes-Browne,
vol. i. pp. 437 and 438. (1900.)
2. Wantage Water- woeks, near the Reservoir. 1900.
Rored and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand & Sutclipf.
Site 346 feet above Ordnance Datum.
Water-level 40| feet below surface. Copious supply obtained.
Depth.
Top soil -
[Lower Chalk]
[Upper Green-
sand, 65 feet]
Gault
Marl and stone (chalk) -
/'Green sand (dry) -
Hard dry green sand
Hard green sand (water met
with at 46 feet) -
I Marl and stone - - -
Feet.
8
13
37
43
50
78
80
Wargrave.
1. Thatched House. Major W. C. F. Molyneux. 1895.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Merryweather & Sons.
Water-level 20 ft. from surface. Bore-hole 6 inches in diameter.
Thickness.
Depth.
Soil and sand 1
Broken chalk and flints/ -----
Solid chalk [Upper Chalk] - - . .
Feet.
25
15
Feet.
25
40
Wargrave and Twyford Water- works. 1894-1896.
The site of the well (223| feet above Ordnance Datum) is at Tag Lane,
one mile E. of the village of Wargrave.
The following particulars are obtained from a Report, for the year 1896,
by Dr. Ashby (Medical Officer of Health of Reading and of the Wokingham
Urban and Rural Districts), from information furnished by the engineer,
Mr. Arthur Marshall, and by the contractors, Messrs. Thos. Tilley &
Sons.
Shaft, 6 feet in diameter to a depth of 1 26| feet, with 9-inch brick-steining
to 37 feet, then 4| inch down to 105^ feet from the surface. At 106 feet
there is a fissure m the Chalk from which a very considerable supply is
obtained when the water-level is above it. At the bottom of the shaft or
well there are two borings, one 9-inch down to the " Chalk Rock " (326 feet
WARGRAVE — WHITE WALTHAM.
91
from the surface), and the other 15-inch, with a 5-inch bore-hole through
the " Chalk Rock " and 20 feet beneath it, to a total depth of 351^ feet from
the surface.
Headings had to be driven from the bottom of the shaft in order to
obtain a sufficient supply of water.
" The total length of headings is 208 feet. Twelve feet of heading, 4 ft.
6 in. wide by 6 ft. high, run west from the well. Running north from
that there are 80 ft, of heading, 6 ft. 3 in. wide by 6 ft. high, with a
continuation of 48 ft. measuring 4 ft. 6. in. by 5 ft. 6 in. high. Running
southwards from the branch from the well there are 42 ft. of head-
ing, 6 ft. 3 in. wide and 6 ft. high, with 26 ft. of 6 ft. by 6 ft. heading
branching out to the west. During their construction at least six fissures
yielding a flow of water were cut."
" The total capacity of the headings is 7,023 cubic feet, and the capacity
of 36 ft. in depth of the well is 1,133 cubic feet. This represents a storage
capacity of about 51,000 gallons, so if water should come in slowly in any
dry season there is room for it to accumulate in suflicient quantity at
night for pumping during day time." {See p. 108.)
Water-level llOi feet from the surface in November, 1895, and 86 feet in
April, 1897, thus snowing a difference of 24j feet in the level of the plane
of saturation.
Thickness.
Depth.
f Reading Beds] Mottled clay, loam, etc., about
Upper Chalk] Chalk and flints
[Middle chaik]{g^^}}[^?^k : : : ;
White Waltham.
Waltham Place. 1894.
Communicated, with specimens, by Miss F. E. Ellis.
Thickness.
Depth.
/ Brown clay, mixed with a little
Feet.
Feet.
red clay and turning green-
ish toward the base -
62
52
Stone. Specimen of pyrites -
1
53
Green sand. Specimen grey
[Reading
Beds]
(dry) - - - - -
Oyster-bed, with flints, speci-
5
58
mens, compacted clayey sand
with green grains and some
of the flints green-coated ;
and Ostrea. Many of the
shells were perfect and
^ double
3
61
Chalk ; with a level layer of flint, about an inch
thick, the surface of which was polished at
the top. On getting into the chalk the well
was filled wi
th foul air at first. - - -
7
68
w.w.
92
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Whitley (near Reading).
1. At junction of roads, north of School, a littk.' more than one mile
north of Threemile Cross.
Boring sunk and communicated by Edward ^fAUGRETT (of Reading).
London clay
Reading Beds
32 ?1 90 feet
2. — At Whitleywood Common, about fifteen chains 8.8.W. of cross-roads,
on east side of road ; and a little more than half-a-mile N.W. of
Shinfield Church,
Boring made and communicated by Mr. Call as (of Reading). 1887.
Surface of ground about 151 feet above Ordnance Datum. Shaft for
reservoir, 2f3 feet, the rest bored. (4-inch tube.)
Water rose to 17 feet 6 inches from surface of ground.
London
p,^ /Blue clay 90
^^^^ (Black sand [basement bed] with water i
Windsor.
1. BURGE AND CO.'S BrEWERY. 1888.
Made and communicated by Messrs. Isler. Further particulars from
Mr. W. Menzie*.
Geol. London Vol. ii. p. 5.
Supply plentiful. Water rose to 20 feet from the surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
[River f Dug well (the rest bored)
Drift] \Gravel - - - -
[London Clay] Blue clay -
(Running sand -
Clay - - - -
i^easj 'I Clay and sand -
69.V feet. Coloured [mottled] cla
iBl '
Chalk
.Blue clay
Feet
8
5.JL
, 27.1
4
25
5
8
?211
Feet.
6
14
19.1
47"
51
76
81
89
300
w. w.
2. The Castle. In the Round Tower.
Illustrated London Xews, 11th June, 1887, p. 664. Geol., London,
Vol. ii., p. 5.
Shaft lined with stone for 60 feet.
Through mound, to original surface - ,50)
Chalk, ? rubbly at top - - - lioi/
? to water (level of Thames).
160.\ feet.
A well in the Quadrangle, about 370 feet from the above, is 120 feet deep
(? to water), the water-level being some feet lower than in the former
case, according to the figure, W, W,
WINDSOR.
93
3. Clewer Lodge, Spittal. (Captain Bulkley's.)
From Mr. Trench's Note-book. (Memoirs, vol. iv., p. 426, and Greol.
London, vol. ii., p. 5.)
Sunk for 40 feet, the rest bored.
Thickness.
Depth.
[London Clay] Blue clay
Black sand
Coloured [mottled] clay -
[Reading Beds, j Sand - . . -
87 feet] \ White stone -
Green clay and a few flints
I Green sand and flints
Chalk
Feet.
88
92
158
161
163
168
175
215
4. Mr. Ramsbottom's.
From Mr. Polwhele's Note-book. (Memoirs, vol. iv., p. 426, and Geol.
London, vol. ii., p. 6.)
Clay. [ ? London Clay and Reading Beds], 116 feet.
Sand [Reading Beds].
According to Mr. J. Simpson (MS. in Library Inst. Civ. Eng.) the total
depth is 442 feet, and water rose to 60 feet below the ground.
5. Royal Brewery, Peascod Street. 1868. ?
Communicated by Mr. Redrup. (Memoirs, vol. iv., p, 426, and Geol.
London, vol. ii., p. 6.)
C ? Clay at top ]
[Reading Beds.] -[ Running sand [■ to Chalk, 72 feet.
l Mottled clays J
6. St. Leonard's Road. Messrs. R. White and Sons
Bored and communicated by Messrs. Isler and Co.
Water-level 9 feet down, lf)wered to 18^ by pumping. Supply 1,000
gallons an ho'ur.
Dug- well. The rest a bore of 5 inches diameter
[River Drift.] Clay and ballast
Hard [London] blue clay
f Mottled clay . - - -
j Mottled clay and sand -
[Reading Beds, J Sand - - . - .
77 feet.] \ Sand and clay -
Black clay _ . - -
I Mottled clay - - - -
Chalk and flints -
3813.
Thickness.
Ft.
m.
16 10
98 2
40
3
10
4
2 6
17 6
162 8
Depth.
Ft. in.
3
19 10
118
158
161
171
175
177 6
195
357 8
W. W.
94
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
7. Brewery (late Jeiming's), Thames Street. 1845. '(
(^[euioii's, vol. iv., ]x 4^20, and Geol. London, vol. ii., p. G.)
Water rises to 12 feet below the ,m<mti(l.
Gravel 25 or 30 -
Clialk, about 500
530 feet.
8. The Conservatory (or George IV.'s) Cottage, near Cunil)erland
Lodge.
I'rom Mr. Polwhele's Note-book, and from Dr. James Mitchell's
MSS., vol. iii., p. 237. (Memoirs, vol. iv., p. 427, and Geol. London,
vol. ii., p. 6.)
Water rose 240 feet. Well now closed.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
Sand [Bagshot 1 or uppermost part of London
Clay] and gravel (gravel and yellow clay in
Dr. Mitchell's account) - - - -
56
50
London Clay ----..--
314
370
[Reading /Mottled clay - - - .
Beds.] \Sand (touched)
2Q
3L^G
—
—
w. w.
9. Windsor Water-works, acquired by the Corporation fi'om the
W^indsor and Eton Waterwoi-ks Company in 1884.
The following particulars are extracted from Dr. H. Timbrell Bul-
strode's Report to the Local Government Board upon the Sanitary Condi-
tion of the Borough of Windsor (1900). {See also p. 110). J.' IL B.
"• Tlie water is derived from Avells situated near to Eton College, most of
hem on an island known as Tangier Island .... three of the four
wells now [1900] in use are cut off from the mainland by means of a stream
or streams. These wells are 26 to 28 feet in depth, the greater portion of
this depth being sunk in the ri\or-,i;'i-avol which liercabouts overlies the
Chalk. This gravel, which is of :i soiii(\vliat line character,, is said to be
20 to 24 feet in depth.
"Each well is some 8 feet in diameter, and is lined internally by cast-iron
cylinders. These cylinders, with the exce[>tion of the uppermost, are all
l>erforated in such a manner as to allow of, or rather to encottrage, the
gravel-water entering the wells. Owing to the increased demands for water,
an attempt was made a few years ago to bore down into the Chalk at the
bott<^ni OT well No. 2, but, although 135 feet 6 inches of Chalk was perforated,
the additional yield of water was practically nil,, a ^fact which would in
itself ap|)ear to militate against the probability of there being fissures in
the Chalk hereabouts. In consequence of the failure to procure an addi-
tional supply from this source, well No. 4 was sunk, and the total supply
^s now, I am informed, quite sufficient for the needs of the district. . .
" The top of the wells has been raised above the level of the surrounding
ground in order to prevent the entrance of river water during times of
excei)tional flood in the Thames valley; for instance, in 1894 the water
actually ovei-flowed into certain of the wells. There is no provision for
storage, the water being pumped direct into the mains, nor is any filtration
considered necessary
" The Corporation now supply a population of about 20,000 in Windsor,
Eton, and Clewer, the daily supply being, I am told, at the rate of about
35 gallons per head.
" Windsor Castle is in the main supplied by its own water-works, which
are situated near Romney Lock, but the Dean's and Canon's residences, and
the Horseshoe Cloisters, which form part of the Castle, are supplied by
the Corporation."
VVINKFIELD.
d5
Winkfield.
1. The Plain (Captain Forbes'.)
J. Simpson, MS. in Library Inst. Civ. Eng. (Memoirs, vol. iv., p. 427, and
Geol. London, vol. ii., p. 6.)
Water rose to a height of 70 feet beloAV the ground.
To Chalk, 304) .,^ c,
T„ 1 o« r 430 feet.
2. (The Row.) [ ? same as the above.]
Dr. J. Mitchell's MSS., vol. iii., p. 237. Memoirs, vol. iv., p. 427, and
Geol. London, vol. ii., p. 6.)
Blue clay, 270 feet.
3. New Lodge, Windsor Forest, M. Van de Weyer's. 1893.
The site of the boring is at the southern border of the grounds, abou*
150 yards from the house, and about 130 westward from Nobbscrook Farm»
and over 3| miles nearly W.S.W. of Windsor Castle.
]3oring made and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand and Sutcliff.
The following section and particulars are from the published account by
Messrs. W. Whitaker and A. J. Jukes-l^rowne, to whom specimens were
submitted. Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc, vol. 50, pp. 496-501. See also Hull,
i/dd^ p. 152.
Site 218 feet above Ordnance Datum.
Shaft 8 feet, the rest bored.
The water from the Lower Greensand rose to 7 feet 8 inches above the
surface of the ground ; that from the Chalk was 151 feet down. (See p. 112).
Thickness.! Depth.
[London Clay]
[Ueailing Beds,
7S feet. 1
Uiiper Chalk,
329 feet. Solid
manses of Hint,
several feet
thick, ill part.
[? Chalk Kock.]
Middle Chalk,
109 feet.
lirown clay
Blue ehiy
liUick [flint] oebbles
Blue clay anu clay-stones [septaria]
Brown dead [elaj'ey] sand [? base-
ment-bed]
Green sand, shells and wat»'r ll:ase-
inent-l)ed]
Mottle<l clay
N'ery liard vellow clay
Brown sanA with water -
Mottleil clay and sand -
Light[-<'olon'redJ blowing sand
Chalk and flints ... -
sticky -
„ „ hard
sticky -
„ „ „ and Inown -
Black chalk
Hard grey chalk and flints
Hard white chalk - - - -
(irey sticky chalk and flints -
„ „ a flint at 578 feet
(Another account savs hard white
chalk, 20 feet.)
White sticky chalk
White chalk
Grey sticky chalk ... -
Hard white chalk - - - -
Hard, sticky, white chalk
Hard chalk
Hard white ch«alk . - - -
Grey gritty chalk - - - -
Chalk marl
Hard white clialk - - - -
Very hard white chalk [? Melbourn
Kock]
3813.
Ft.
;•»!.
Ft.
in.
6
6
54
60
1
61
54
115
15
130
6
136
14
150
14
164
11
175"
17
192
22
214
79
293
30
323
159
482
21
503
32
6
535
6
4
6
543
8
551
13
6
564
6
2
G
567
15
582
8
590
27
617
6
623
25
648
2
650
29
6
679
6
14
6
694
4
698
4
702
4
706
14
!
720
2
^6 WATER SUPPLY OF BEHKSHIHE.
WiNKFiELD. 3. New Lodge, Windsor Forest — continued.
Thickness.
[Lower Chalk,
219 feet.]
White and <^reen chalk [? Belemni-
tella Marl]
White chalk
Hard white chalk - . - -
Free- cutting white chalk
Hard white chalk - -
Very hard white chalk -
Very hard grey chalk
Hard dark-grey chalk [? Totternhoe
Stone]
f Blue clayey chalk. Specimen
with minute flakes of mica
Upper Greensand.
and some black specks -
Dark brown clayey chalk
Grey chalk, with hard bands
from 1 to 13 inches thick.
Specimen from 927 ft. : like
the hard beds of the Chalk
Marl (with ' spheres,' Hill).
Specimen from the base : dark
grey marl, with quartz-grains,
mica-Hakes, and black par-
ticles [? glauconite] ; small
bits of glauconitic marl
Some resembling the Upper Green-
sand at the Wallingford and Moulsford borings.
Specimen from 939 ft. 8 in. : dark -grey plastic Chalk
Marl with many glauconite-grains, enclosing bits
of a harder or drier, mote glauconitic marl.
After treatment with acid and washing, a bit left
about two-thirds of its bulk, consisting almost
wholly of quartz and glauconite. Probably Chalk
Marl has been carried down by the boring-tool into
the sand. Specimen from 942 ft. 8 in. : hard grey
marl full of grains of quartz and of glauconite.
Specimen from 956 ft. : calcareous malmstone, hav-
ing a matrix of granular calcite, with many angular
bits of calcitic shell, many sponge-spicules and
minute scattered grains of quartz and of glauconite.
This slide also shows a great number of black specks
(pyrites?) which fill chambers of very small
foraminifera {Textularia and others). Specimen
from 956 ft. 8 in. : hard, compact, grey stone, sandy,
micaceous, fine-grained. Specimen from 960 ft. :
hard, compact, grey sandy stone, Avith some calca-
reous matter. Specimen from 968-970 ft. t fine-
grained sandy stone like the last, but with little
calcareous matter
Gault [clay]. Became dark and sticky at
994 ft. (sample brought up dry). Speci-
men from 1,006 ft. like Lower Gault
(W. Hill). Hard, dry, friable [light-
grey] clay at 1,050ft. to 1,056 it. Then
dark soft clay [grey, with some bits of
a lighter colour], impeding the progress
of the pipes. Ammonites splendens at
1,170 ft. when the clay beomes harder.
Inoceramus siilcatus at 1,170 and 1,179
ft (E. T. Newton). Phosphatic
nodules from 1,171 ft. -
Brown and dark -greenish sandy clay.
Sand only observed near the base. At
the base a layer of phosphatic nodules
Lower Greensand. Fine sharp, light-brown sand, of
the ordinary character of that in the Folkestone
Beds. Witn water
[Gault,
264 feet.]
Ft. in.
6
27
44
12
15
7 9
17 1
18 2
1
21
50
31
260
4
9
WOKINGHAM.
97
Wokingham.
1. WiLTER- WORKS. Oil the Fiiichampstead road, near the junction of the
L. & S. W. and S. E. Railways. 1880.
Prof. T. R. Jones, Geol. Mag., dec. ii., vol. vii., pp. 421-424, with additional
particulars from J. W. Grover, Proc. Inst. C. E.
166 ft. above Ordnance Datum.
Shaft 264 ft. [6 ft. in diameter to 200 then 4 ft.], then the rest bored (24
to 15 inches) and lined to the depth of 10 ft. in the chalk.
Yield, from the chalk, 15,000 gallons an hour, at a level of 70 ft. below the
surface. Rose to within 38 ft. of the top. [A considerable quantity of
water was found in the Reading Beds, which rose to within 40 ft. of
the surface, as stated on coloured-section by J. W. Grover, C.E.,
supplied to me by Mr. A. M. Quill, Engineer to the Wokingham
District Water Company, who informs me that the yield at the present
time (November, 1900) is 8,000 gallons an hour, and the Water-level
132 ft. from the surface. {See p. 112). J. H. B.]
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
Surface soil
1
1
/ Fawn-coloured and brown clay
{Gardium) in lower part
11
12
Blue and coraj^act clay, drjring
dark-grey, with fossils and
.<'
layers of septaria. Layer of
flint-pebbles at 52 ft. (from
surface of ground). Loamy,
with water at 70-82 ft. Thin
seam of black sand at 73 ft.
Loamy at 125-137 ft. Large
flint pebbles at 209 ft. Seam
of black sand, with water,
at 259 ft. - . - .
252
264
' Dark grey loam
sand and shale
[laminated clay],
Cytherea;y\Q\dieo
London Clay,
273 ft. \
120 gallons of
water an hour -
1
265
Fine sand mth
green grains.
Ditrupa
1
266
Cement stones
2
268
Daik sand with
Basement-.
shells -
1
269
bed, 10 ft.
Clay, with pyrites -
Sand (mth thin
li
270^
seams of clay)
and sandstone.
Ditrupa. Small
black flint
pebbles. Water
rose 126 ft. and
would have risen
more but for
pumping -
3
273i
^
\ Glauconitic clay -
\
274
98
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
1. Water-works — continued.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
^Mottled clay - - - -
2
276
Reddish and then brownish clay
9
285
Mottled clay -
4
289
Sandy clay . - - -
1
290
Friable clay and sandstone
1
291
Brown loamy clay -
2
293
Hard mottled clay -
2
295
Grey sand, from which water
rose to within 42 ft. of the
surface- - - - -
2
297
Loamy clay - - - -
2
299
Sand and clay - - - . -
2
301
Woolwich and
Reading Beds,,
70 ft. ^
Mottled green clay -
Sandy clay . _ . -
Mottled brown and red clay -
2
3
6^
303
306
312^
Sandy clay _ . - -
li
314
Greenish loamy clay
2
316
Mottled clay . - - -
1
317
Brown clay
4
321
Grey sand - . - -
i
321^
Mottled clay, with thin seams*
of greenish sand -
3^
325
Mottled clay with sand -
3
328
Grey sand, with a thin seam
of clay in the middle -
15
343
Green sand, with green-coated
pebbles (a few) and sub-
^. angular flints
1
344
/ Soft grey chalk, the greyness
perhaps owing to admixture
of sand from above (in per-
forations) - - - -
8
352
Chnlk, 64 ft. (
White chalk, with bands and
scattered nodules of flint.
Water yielded from soft
chalk under a foot band of
flint below 402 ft. Ending
V in hard rock (flmt)
56
408
WOKINGHA^E
99
2. Water-works, nearly half-a-mile N.E. of Toutley Hall. 1896.
The following particulars are taken from a large coloured-section and from
information supplied to me by Mr. A. M. Quill, Engineer to the Woking-
ham District Water Co.— J. H. B.
About 150 feet above Ordnance Datum.
Shaft 6 feet in diameter, with 9-inch brick-steining to 200 feet; the rest
bored and lined with 6-inch tube, which rests on the chalk at 243 feet.
Water-level 20 feet from the surface, which has not altered.
Yield 5,000 gallons per hour. {See p. 112).
Thickness.
Depth.
/Blue clay, with slight varia-
tions in the colour between 55
and 92 feet; loamy with oc-
casional veins of black sand
1 to ^ inch thick from 111 to
143 "feet. Clay-stones 6
inches thick [septaria] at 34,
48,92,111,131 and 133 feet.
Bed of shells 3 inches thick
at 55, and 2 inches thick at
150 and 159 feet. Bed of
pebbles [flint] 2 inches thick
Feet.
Feet.
[London Clay i
175 feet.] ^
at 111^ feet, and bed of grey
sand one inch tliick at I 13
feet. (Bellows t(^ piovide
air for men working m shaft
were fixed at 83 feet, as the
candles at tin's level wodld
not burn) - - - -
164
164
/Sand, with water,
rock at 164, very
hard cement-
[Basement- ^
stone at 175,
Bed] \ bed of shells at
168, and bed
of pebbles [flint]
\ at 173 feet
11
175
/Loamy mottled clay
11
186
Running sand
3
189
Mottled clay, with thin layers
of greenish sand from 200
to 230 feet (owing to sand
and water at 200 feet the
shaft could no longer be pro-
[Reading Beds ^
ceeded with)
41
230
68 feet]
Running sand (filled up the
well and caiist'd nnicli
trouble)
6
236
/Varying beds of
[Bottom- S'f ^, '^^^ ?^^
•^^^J with bed of flints
\ \ at base
7
243 .
[Upper]
Chalk (touched).
lOO
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Woodley.
The Chequers. Messrs. Hawkins & Son.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Callas.
Water-level 53 feet from surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
Drift
[ London
Clay,
^3 feet.]
[Heading
Beds,
26 feet.]
Soil - - - -
Gravel
I^Dark blue clay
-( Light blue clay
'vGrey sand
I'Mottled clay -
■< Yellow sand
Mottled sand and clay
Feet.
3
19
37
38
42
61
63
68
Woolhampton.
1. Woolhampton Paek.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Piper, of Bucklebury.
7 feet.
Lower
or
.^^S*«'1 Brown clay - -
London Clay ? /Pebbles and dark clay
2. Jubilee Well, close to " Angel " Inn.
Sunk and communicated by Mr. Piper.
[Alluvium] (
fSoil -
Blue clay
Peat -
Malm
6 \
3
1
11^ feet.
I'. J. B.
WOOLHAMPTON.
101
3. St. Mary's Collegia. 'lS'89J ] \V:'\ \\' '". '■< '
Made and communicated by Messrs. Le Grand & Sutcliff.
365 feet above Ordnance Datum. Water-level about 161 feet down.
Thickness.
Depth.
Feet.
Feet.
[Plateau DrifqjISgLl] - - '-
1
4
[Bagshot] Loamy sand - - - - -
26
30
/Blue sandy clay
21
51
Pebbles -----
i
51^
Blue sandy clay, with 8 inches
of stone [septaria] at 57^ and
a foot at 61 -
39|
91
London Clay, ,
Pebbles
1
92
176 feet.] S
Blue sandy clay
Blue clay, with 6 inches of stone
68
160
[septaria] at 165 -
35
195
rT> ^4. relay and shells -
[Basement- Igi/^^^^^y^l^y .
\ oeaj I^Dead brown sand -
4^
195 J
200
6
206
['Mottled clays - - - -
35
241
Brown blowing sand
4
245
Light-brown mottled clay
5
250
[Reading Beds,
Light-blue sandy clay
Brown sand - - . -
4
2
254
256 •
72^ feet] ^
Grey sand . . - .
5
261
Blue clay
2
263
Grey sand . - . -
10
273
Sandy clay and shells [OstreaX]-
5
278
Grey running sand -
nearly ^
278^
Chalk and flint
;S
over 141^
420
w.w.
4. Public Well (Jubilee), given by Miss Blyth. 1897.
Bored and communicated by Mr. Edward Margrett.
Water from the Chalk rose 18 feet above the surface.
Thickness.
Depth.
1 Loamy clay - - - -
Peat -----
Soft white clay (surface water-
level
Ballast [gravel] - - -
r- , ^, relay with round stones [? flint-
[London Llay,l pebbles] and pyrites -
Feet.
5
12
1
8
7
1^
Feet.
5
17
18
26
33
34^
102
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
4 Public Well — continued.
Thickness.
Depth.
.
Feet.
Feet.
/Mottled clays (witli layers of
shelly rock) [? layers on top
of mottled clays, belonging
to Imsement-bed of the Lon-
don Clay*] -
23
57|
Sand and water (rose to surface
level)- - - -
5
62^
Flint ballast [pebbles] in clay
li
64
Loamy sand and water (rose
to 4^ feet above the surface)
8*
72
[Reading Beds
79i feet] ^
Sandstone - - - -
Clay -----
Sharp sand (water rose ih feet
4
2
75
77
above the surface)
1
78
Mottled clays - - - -
11
89
Grey sajid and water (rose 16
feet above the surface)
3
94
Clay with pyrites -
2
96
Sand - - - - -
8
104
Flint ballast [pebbles] -
1
105
Sand, w^ater-worn stones and
.
pyrites - - - -
5
110
Clay with shells
4
114
[Upper Chalk,rSpongy chalk -
48 feet] (Hard Chalk and flints -
6
120
42 •
162
[* ^lost probably about 7 feet of the clays containing the layers of shelly
rock1»elong to the London Clay, increasing its thickness to 15| feet, and
reducing that of the Reading Beds to 72^ feet, the same as in the section of
St. Mary's College. J. H. B.]
Wootton.
Abingdon AVater- works wells, at the cross-roads nearly half a mile S.S.E.
of the Manor Farm.
Communicated by Mr. A. T. Atchison to Mr. De Range, 1877.
See Memoir " The Jurassic Rocks of Britain," vol. v., p. 125.
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft. in.
Ft. in.
f^Jrilee^f }«-g^'«- - - - -
31 6
31 6
[Calcareous ( Solid blue stone -
Grit, 11 \ Clean sand - - - -
feet.] I Solid blue stone - - -
2 G
6
2 6
34
40
42 6
XOxfcwrd Clay.] Soft soapy clay
34 6
77
WYTHAM.
103
Wytham.
A little west of the South Lodge of Wytham Park. 1829.
Boring made by E. Bagnall, Mine-agent, Baskerville House, Birmingham.
" Section presented to the Oxford Museum in 1849 by the Earl of Abingdon.
The terms employed by the workmen are used in the coal-fields of
Staffordshire for strata somewhat analogous." From "Geology of
Oxford and the Valley of the Thames," by Phillips, pp. 296-297.
The classification in square brackets by Mr. H. B. Woodward.*
Thickness.
Depth.
] Drift.
[Oxford Clay
and
Kellaways
Rock, 258 feet.
r Loamy ground
I Quicksand and water
/ Blue clunch -
Light clunch -
Blue clunch
Clunch bines -
Blue cluncli
Clunch bines -
Blue clunch -
Brown clunch -
Mingled ground
Strong grey rock
Grey clunch
Brown clunch -
Mingled ground
Blue clunch bines -
Mingled ground
Brown clunch -
Mingled ground
Blue clunch
Dark blue rock
Dark parting clunch
Dark blue rock
, Dark clunch -
[Cornbrash] (
Strong blue rock
Dark parting clunch
Strong blue rock
Strong parting clunch
Blue rock
rClunch and clunch bines
VDark parting clunch
"* See Geological Survey Memoir on '
vol. v., pp. 42-43,
Ft. in.
12
3
68 6
1 6
28 6
4 6
29
2
6
(3
6
28
3
11
1
2
1
17
6
4
17
9 6
3 6
11 6
10 6
6
1 6
6
18
6
Ft. in.
12
15
83 6
85
113 6
118
147
149
177
180
191 6
192 6
194 6
196
213
219
223
240 6
250
255
258 6
259
261 6
273
283 6
284 6
290
290 6
292
298
316
316 6
The Jurassic Rocks of Britain,'
104
WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Wytham — continued.
Thickness.
Depth.
Ft.
in.
Ft. in.
'Light rock . - - -
30
3
346 9
Light parting clunch bines
9
347 6
Light rock . _ - -
5
352 6
Very dark parting - - -
2
354 6
Grey rock - _ . .
1
4
355 10
Dark parting - - - -
Clunch bines - - - -
8
356 6
7
6
364
Great Oolite, ,
96 feet.] ^
Grey rock . . - .
Dark parting - - - -
Grey rock . . - _
3
1
2
6
6
367
368 6
371
Blue bines . - - -
2
373
Mingled ground
3
376
Blue rock _ - . .
9
385
Dark ground - - - -
1
6
386 6
Mingled ground
7
6
394
Light rock . . _ -
16
6
410 6
I Black bat . - - .
2
412 6
^nt/eSfl^-'^
35
6
448
f747ee^t!r}Mingled ground - - {
11
3
6
459 6
462 6
[Middle Lias r Ironstone - - . .
4
462 10
and Lower ] Cluncli mixed with ironstone -
132
594 10
Lias] I Dark cluncli - - - -
2
596 10
"The boring was carried to the depth of 211 yards, the strata the same
as that at 596 feet."— C. Webb.
Yattendon.
1 to 8. Communicated by Mr. John Higgs to Mr. F. J. Bennett.
1. Dr. Breach's.
[Reading Beds] Clay - -
[Upper Chalk] Chalk, with flints
- m
- 118/
128 feet.
2. Manor House.
10 feet of water.
[Reading Beds] Sand and clay - - - 201
[Upper Chalk] Chalk, with flints - - 115j
135 ftet.
3. Manstone Farm.
b\ feet of water.
rSoil, ft\] Mould -
[Upper Chalk] Chalk, with flints -
- 5
- 117
i|l22jfeet.
4. "Royal Oak "Inn.
375 feet above Ordnance Datum. 6 feet of water.
[Reading Beds] Sand and clay - - - - 22 1
[Upper Chalk] Chalk, with flints - - 112j
134 feet.
YATTENDON — SANDLEFORD PRIORY.
106
5. The Village Well ; near the " Royal Oak."
[Reading Beds] Sand and clay - - - 201, oi x ^
[Upper Chalk] Chalk, with flints - - lll/^^^ *®«*-
6. The Homestead Farm.
21 feet of water.
[Reading Beds] Sand and clay -
[Upper Chalk] Chalk, with flints -
j^glni feet.
7. The Rectory.
85 feet of water.
[Reading Beds] Clay
[Upper ChalkJ Chalk, with flints -
A%)m
feet.
8. Yattendon Farm.
13| feet of water.
[Reading Beds] Sand and clay -
[Upper Chalk] Chalk, with flints
: 124)139 feet.
ADDENDUM.
Sandleford Priory.
Mrs. Myers'.
Bored and communicated by Messrs. C. Isler <k Co. to Mr. Whitaker.
Tubed 215 feet with 5-inch tube, 8 feet above surface.
Water-level 100 feet from surface. Yield 100 gallons per hour.
Thickness.
Depth.
[Plateau]
Gravel
Ft.
3
in.
6
Ft. in.
3 6
[Bagshot Beds]
Yellow sand - - -
3
6 6
[London Clay,
118^ feet.] \
/ Sandy clay - - - -
Yellow clay and pebbles
Blue clay - . . .
Blue clay and pebbles -
Blue clay . - . .
White clay stone -
Blue clay - . . .
, Grey chalk-flints -
26
12
14
5
19
1
34
5
6
6
6
3
9
32 6
44 6
59
64 6
84
85 3
120
125
[Reading Beds, ,
92 feet.]
-^ Mottled clay - - - -
Blue clay - _ . .
Mottled clay - - - -
Grey sand
Green sand - - - -
\ Sandy clay, shells -
17
4
31
22
14
2
6
6
5
1
6
142 6
147
178
200 5
214 6
217
[Upper Chalk] -
f Chalk with flints -
Chalk
, Chalk with flints -
6
38
41
223
261
302
106 WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
ANALYSES OF WATERS.
Aldermaston.
Aldekmaston Wharf. The Brewery. December 23rd, 1867.
Analysis by Dugald Campbell. Communicated by Messrs.
Strange & Sons.
[Water from the Upper Chalk, — possibly mixed with some from the
Reading Beds ?] {See p. 17.)
The water was turbid and contained matter in suspension, l)ut when
filtered and viewed in bulk it was perfectly bright and colourless, and was
free from any unpleasant taste or odour.
The matter in suspension was separated and examined under the
microscope, and was found to consist of a small quantity of decayed
vegetable matter, oxide of iron, and carbonate of lime.
Grains per gallon.
Total solid contents ------ 27'76
Mineral matter ------- 27'44
Consisting of volatilized matter by carbonization 0*32
Oxidizable organic matter contained in 0'32 grains
volatilized matter by carl)oni/ation - - - 0*08
Hardness before boiling - - - - - - 11*5 degrees.
Hardness after boiling ------ 4*8 „
The Mineral matter was found to consist as follows : —
Grains per gallon.
Silica --------- 1-60
Sesquioxide of Iron ..---. 0-24
Lime, principally as Carbonate - _ . . 3-24
Magnesia - - - - - - - - 1*62
Potash --------- 0*84
Soda --------- 1-68
Ammonia -.--_--_ o-024
Nitric Acid -------- o:028
Sulphuric Acid ------- 0'08
Chlorine --------- 0*50
Difference, carl)onic acid combined with the lime, etc., and loss in
analysis.
From the above analysis I conclude that this water is of the quality of
ordinary chalk water ; for brewing ales especially I prefer a water that
remains after boiling considerably harder than this does. D. C.
Ascot. .
Brick-Kiln Farm. From Mr. Critcher's Well. July 13th, 1877. ( See p. 21 .)
[Water from the Lower Bagshot Sand.j
Dr. Ballard's Report to the Local Government Board, July 10th, 1878.
Analysis by Dr. A. Dupre.
" The water is clear, but on standing yields a minute trace of deposit ;
this deposit consists of carbonate of lime chiefly, and is entirely free from
animal organisms. The hardness is very moderate, and is due almost
entirely to the presence of sulphate of lime. It is free from ammonia, yields
ANALYSES OF WATERS. 107
only a very small trace of albuminoid ammonia, 'and absorbs but little oxygen
from permanganate. In its present condition it is, therefore, as far as the
actual presence of organic impurities is concerned, a very pure water. The
water contains however much chlorine, a very large amount of nitric acid,
and comparatively speaking, much phosphoric acid. It also contains a \ ery
high pro])ortion of alkali salts. All this indicates that the water has at
some period of its history been very largely contaminated by sewage or
surface drainage. At present the organic matters thus added have been
very completely oxidized, and so far rendered innocuous. But oxidation
may not always be so complete as it is at present, and the water would
then become entirely unfit for drinking. Even at the best it is not
advisable to use such water for drinking."
The analytical details are given in the following table : —
Appearance Clear
Colour Pale greenish yellow
Taste - Tasteless
Smell - Inodorous
Deposit ------ Very minute trace
Nitrous acid ----- None
Phosphoric acid - - - . Much
Metallic impurities - - - - None
Hardness before boiling - - - 7'5 degrees
Hardness after boiling - - - 5*2 degrees
Grains per gallon
Oxygen absorbed from peimanganate - - - O'Oll
Total dry residue ------- 24*01
n^„c.;o+;«« r.e /Volatile matters - - - - 7 '56)
Consisting of jpixed salts - - - - - 16-45 j
Chlorine --------- 340
Nitric acid (NoOg) ..-.-- 518
Ammonia - - - 00000
Albuminoid ammonia ------ 0*0036
A. D. July 16 1877
Kingston Lisle.
Kingston Lisle Paiik. Now well, 44 feet in depth. April, 10th, 1891.
Analysis by Alfred Asiiby.
[Water from the Upper Oreen.sand ; — well dug down to the
Gault. (See p. 53)].
Parts per 100,000.
Chlorine - - - - - - - - - 3*20
Nitrous acid -------- 0*00
Nitric acid (N.jOrJ- - - - - - - 0*67
Phosphoric acid ------ heavy traces
Total solids -------- 49*60
Free ammonia ------- '0038
Albuminoid ammonia ------ -0137
Lead and copper ------- absent
Hardness, Total .--_.-- ^8*9 degrees
„ Permanent ------ 4*6 „
„ Temporary ------ 24*3 „
This water does not bear evidence of sewage or animal contamination
when the well is finished I consider that it will be a good water.
Although hard it is rendered very soft by thorough boiling. A. A.
108 WATEK SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE.
Sonning.
Water- Works. Tube- well. 1892.
Analysis by Alfred Ashby.
[Water from the Upper Chalk. (See p. 74.)]
Parts per 100,000.
Chlorine - . - . 1-75
Nitrous acid -------- 0"00
Nitric acid (N2O5) - ----.. 5-28
Phosphoric acid - - - - - - heavy traces
Total solids - - _ - - - - - - 43*88
Free or saline ammonia ------ -0015
Albuminoid ammonia ------ -0059
Lead and copper ------- absent
Hardness Temporary - - - - - - 20" 7
„ Permanent ------ 7'1
„ Total --_.--- 27'8
This is a good water ; it is hard, but that is a character pertaining to the
water of the district, and it is less hard than polluted water from wells in
the village, whilst the greater part of its hardness can be removed by
boiling.
Wargrave and Twyford.
Water- Works. Well. 1896.
Analysis by Alfred Ashby.
Borings and headings in the Chalk under Tertiary Beds. (See p. 90).
Parts per 100,000.
Chlorine - - - - - - - - - 4*30
Nitrous acid -------- O'OO
Nitric acid (N2O5) - - - - - - - 1*18
Sulphuric acid (SO...) ------ 2-39
Phosphoric acid ------- traces.
Total solids - - _ - - - - - - 45*96
Free or saline ammonia - - - - - - '0019
Albuminoid ammonia ------ '0046
Oxygen absorbed from perman- Tin ^ hour - - "0087
ganate at 80° Fahr. (in 4 hours - - *0156
Lead and copper ------- absent
Hardness Temporary - 23*94
„ Permanent ------ 9-48
„ Total - - - - - - - 33*42
Odour at 100° Fahr. ------ none
Colour and appearance in 2 ft. tube - pale greenish blue, clear
Microscopical examination - - _ _ - satisfactory
This is a very pure water. It is hard, but the greater part of its hardness
can be removed by boiling. It has many of the characters of water from
the uncovered Chalk from which the well is not far distant.
Stratfield Mortimer.
Oakfield. June 19th, 1895.
Analyses by Percy A. C. Richards. Communicated by Mr. C W. Tyser.
[Water from the Lower Bagshot Beds. {See p. 78.)]
A. " Water drawn from the pantry tap in the house, [source] New Wells."
[after having passed through from five-eighths to three-quarters of a mile of
galvanized iron pipe from the reservoir.]
B. " Water dipped from the reservoir [at site] of the [three] new wells."
AXALYSES Of^ WATERS. 109
Analysis of A.: —
This sample possessed a perfectly distinct opalescence, and after standing
exposed to air for twenty-four hours formed a refractive film on the
surface.
The smell, however, was not at all stale.
A microscopic examination was made, but nothing unusual in ordinary
well water was detected.
Grains per gallon.
Free ammonia ------- -0042
Albuminoid ammonia ------ '0028
Nitrogen present as nitrates- - - - . -035
Chlorind present as chlorides - - - - 1'3
Total solids -------- 14-35
(A qualitative examination of the solids showed them to consist of Sul-
phates and Carbonates together with traces of iron and a distinct amount
of zinc.)
An estimation of the zinc present was then made, giving: zinc carbonate
present 3*42 grains per gallon.
The total hardness was equivalent to 8*94 grains of calcium carb. per
gallon.
During three hours action in the cold the oxygen absorbed amounted to
"0536 grain per gallon.
Analysis of B.:—
This sample was bright and clear and had no opalescence, whilst the
microscope showed nothing abnormal to good well water.
Grains per gallon.
Free ammonia ------- -003
Albuminoid ammonia - - - - - - "0028
Nitrogen present as Nitrate nil.
Chlorine present as Choride ----- 1*3
Total solid constituents ----- 10-5
(These last were not so white in appearance as those in the previous case,
liut charred rather more. Carbonates and Sulphates were present, but no
lime could be detected.)
The total hardness = 4*57 grains Calcium Carbonate per gallon.
The oxygen obsorbed during three hours action in the cold was practi-
cally nil.
From the foregoing results it is evident that this is a fairly soft water,
which, although pure enough when taken direct from the well, yet during
its passage through pipes and storage in a cistern, becomes contaminated
by the metals over which it passes, resulting in its finally containing a con-
siderable amount of carbonate of zinc in solution.
The latter body if present to the extent of a quarter of a grain per gallon
would suffice to make the water highly undesirable for drinking purposes,
while in this sample nearly three and a-half grains are present.
Consequently, although satisfactory enough when taken fresh from the
well, I must unhesitatingly condemn the water drawn from the ta]3 in the
house on account of the quantity of zinc it contains.
A. C. R.
3813. H
iJO WATER SriM'J.y oi' r.ElUvSHlKE.
Windsor.
Water-works.
(1). From the Main on Castle Hill. February 17th, 189G.
R. H. TiMBRELL Bulstrode's Report to the Local Government Board
29th June, 1900. {See also p. 94.)
Analyses by E. J. A. Midwinter.
[Water from the Thames Valley Gravel, from Wells 26 to 28 feet in depth
near Eton College.]
Grains per gallon.
Nitrogen as ammonia (free and combined) - - 0*000
Nitrogen as organic matter ----- 0'004
Nitrogen as nitrates -^ - - - _ - - 0"066
Oxygen required to oxidize the organic matter
present -------- 0"031
Total solid matters- ------ 25.6I
Calcium oxide (existing as carbonate and sulphate) - 10*51
Magnesium oxide ( „ „ » ) - 0*42
Alkalies ( „ chlorides and nitrates) - 1*57
Sulphuric anhydride (existing as sulphates) - - 3*51
Chlorine (existing as chlorides) - - - - 1*63
Carbonic anhydride (existing as carbonate) - - 6*80
Nitric „ ( „ nitratps) - - 0*25
Silica --------- 0*07
The water when boiled for some time precipitated : —
Grains per gallon
♦ Calcium carbonate (chalk) ----- 14*86
Magnesium carbonate ------ 0-48
So that the constituents of the water were most probably combined as
follows : —
Calcium carbonate (chalk) - - - - - 14*86
Magnesium carbonate ------ o*48
Calcium sulphate ------- 5-32
Magnesium sulphate ------ o*57
Sodium chloride (common salt) - - - _ 2*69
Alkaline nitrates - - - - - - - 0*40
Siliceous matter ------- o*07
The hardness of the water was 19*0 degrees, but this was reduced on
boiling for 15 minutes to 4*0 degrees.
The water was bright and clear and without odour when warmed.
The water was of good quality for dietetic purposes, and comparatively
free from pollution by animal matter. March 30th, 1896.
(2.) From the Windsor Mains on October 22nd, 1897.
The water was quite clear and entirely free from odour when warmed.
Grains per gallon.
Nitrogen as ammonia ------ 0*000
Nitrogen as organic matter ----- o*001
Nitrogen as nitrates ---_._ o*048
Oxygen required to oxidize the organic matter - 0*031
Total solid matter ------- 26.391
Chlorine or chlorides ------ 1*526
Equal to sodium chlorides ----- 2*574
Hardness in total - - - - - - - 19*2 degrees
Hardness after boiling 15 minutes - - - - 4*1 „
The water is of very good quality ; it has been [naturally] efficiently
Altered, and may be used for dietetic purposes with absolute security.
November 20th, 1897
ANALYSES OF WATERS. Ill
(3) From the Windsor Corporation Main in Eton College on
25tli January, 1898.
The water was clear and without odour when warmed.
Grains per gallon.
Nitrogen as annnonia (free and combined) - - O'OOO
Nitrogen as organic matter ----- Q-ooi
Nitrogen as nitrates ------ 0*0481
Chlorine as chlorides ------ 1-562
Equal to sodium chloride ----- 2"574
Oxygen required to oxidize organic matter - - 0*031
Total solid matter ------- 26*391
Temporary hardness - - - - - - 19*2 degrees.
Permanent hardness - - - - - 4*1 „
The water was of good quality, safe for dietetic purposes, and had been
[naturally] efficiently filtered.
(4.) From the Mains of Windsor Corporation AVater-works in Victoria
Street, Windsor, on May 10th, 1898.
Grains per gallon.
Nitrogen as ammonia (free and combined) - - 0*000
Nitrogen as organic matter - - - - 0*002
Nitrogen a,s nitrates - - _ _ . o*041
Oxygen reiiuired to oxidize the organic matter - 0*022
Total solid matters - - - - - - - 25*561
Chlorine as chlorides - - - - - - 1*42
E(iual to sodium chloride ----- 2*34
Hardness, temporary ------ 19-0 degrees.
Hardness, permanent ------ 0*8 „
The water was bright and clear and had no odour when slightly warmed.
The water is of good quality and [naturally] efficiently filtered; there is some
improvement since my last analysis was made. — June 21st, 1898.
(5.) From the Mains near the Wesleyan Chapel, New Road, Windsor,
October, 1898.
Grains per gallon.
Nitrogen as ammonia (free and combined) - - 0*000
Nitrogen as organic matter ----- 0*002
Nitrogen as nitrates 0*045
Oxygen required to oxidize organic matter - - 0*036
Chlorine as chlorides ------ 1*562
Equal to sodium chloride ----- 2*574
Total solid matters ------- 25*097
Hardness, temporary ------ 19-0 degrees.
Hardness, permanent ------ 4*0 „
The water was bright and clear and without odour. The water was of
good quality and had [naturally] undergone efficient filtration.
November 12th, 1898.
(G.) From the Windsor Main in Park Street, on December 2nd, 1899.
Grains per gallon.
Nitrogen as ammonia (free and combined) - - 0*000
Nitrogen as organic matter ----- 0*0025
Nitrogen as nitrites ------ o*000
Nitrogen as nitrates - - - - - - 0*041
Oxygen required to oxidize organic matter - - 0*034
Chlorine as chlorides 1*746
Equal to sodium chloride (common salt)- - - 3*042
Total solid matters ------- 26*01
Temporary hardness ------ 19-4 degrees
Permanent hardness ------ 4*0 „
The water was very slightly turbid, the turbidity consisting of earthy
matter. It was free from odour when warmed. The water is satisfactory,
free from pollution, and of good (quality. December 29th, 1899.
112 WATER SUPPLY OF BERKSHIRE
Winkfield,
New Lodge, Windsor Forest. From a Bore-hole. May, 27th, 1893.
Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc, vol. 50, p. 601.
Analysis by Dr. B. Dyer.
[Water from the Lower Greensand, at the depth of 1243 feet. {See p. 95.)]
Grains.
Total dissolved matter - - - - - - 61 '74
Loss on incineration of residue - - - - '84
Chlorine in chlorides (equal to chloride of sodium
43-37) --------- 26-32
Free (actual or saline) ammonia - - . - -045
Albuminoid (organic) ammonia - - - - "003
Oxygen, absorbed by oxidizable organic matter, etc.,
from a solution of permanganate of potash at a
temperature of 80° Fahr. - - Li 15 minutes "003
„ „ In 4 hours - -Oil
Phosphoric acid - - - - - - traces
No nitrogen as nitrates.
Hardness before boiling 3°, after boiling .
Appearance in two-feet tube turbid. Microscopic examination
satisfactory.
The dissolved matter consisted of the following (in grains) : —
Carbonate of lime ------ 2*24
Carbonate of magnesia - - - - - '73
Carbonate of soda ------ 4*99
Sulphate of soda ------ 9*17 / 61*74
Chloride of sodium - - - _ - 43-37
Oxide of iron and alumina - - - - "28
Silica, traces of organic matter, etc. - - '96 -
" So far as regards organic matter this water is remarkably pure, as would
be expected from the depth. The most remarkable feature about it is the
presence of a large quantity of common salt. This of course is not
prejudicial to health, though persons of delicate palate might detect a faint
trace of salt. The hardness is only 3 degrees, so that for laundry purposes
the water would be economical. It would also be excellent for boiler
purposes, in the sense that it would not form a crust ; though a steam-boiler,
of course, would want occasional blowing-out— owing to the concentration
of salt."
Wokingham.
Water-works. 1897.
No. 1. From the old well at Wokingham, 408 feet deep.
No. 2. From the new well at Toutley, 243 feet deep.
Analyses by Alfred Ashby.
[Water from Chalk and Tertiary Beds. (See pp. 97-99.)]
Chlorine
Nitrous Acid
Nitric Acid (N3O5)
Sulphuric Acid (SO3) -
Phosphoric Acid -
Total Solids -
Free, or Saline, Ammonia
Albuminoid Ammonia -
Oxygen absorbed from per- \ in |
manganate at 80° Fanr. j in 4
Parts per
100,000.
No. 1.
No. 2.
-
39*40
18*16
-
0-00
0-00
-
0-399
0-003
-
4-44
6-63
-
very faint trace
faint trace
-
101-92
66-72
-
.0464
. -1318
-
-0037
-0036
4- hour -
•0158
-0066
4 hours -
•0265
-0112
ANALYSES OF WATERS.
113
Hardness, temporary -
„ permanent -
Total - - - -
Lead and Copper - - - -
Colour and appearance in 2 ft. tube
Odoui' at 100° Fahr.
Deposit - - - - -
Degrees.
10-0
2-6
12-6
absent
pale greenish
blue, clear
none
little oxide of
iron ; microsco-
pical examina-
tion satisfactory-
Degrees.
13-3
3-2
16-5
absent
pale greenish
blue, clear
none
very slight ;
microscopical
examination
satisfactory
These are wholesome waters and organically of great purity, having all
the characters of unpolluted water from wells sunk mto the Chalk beneath
a mass of Tertiary Beds, the water from the new well being less highly
charged with saline matter than that from the old well. Thus, the chlorine,
free animonia and total solids are very high, whilst the nitric acid and the
organic matter, as indicated by the albuminoid ammonia yielded and the
oxygen absorbed from- permanganate, are very low ; the waters are fairly
soft and the residues left after evaporation are strongly alkaline. A. A.
114
INDEX.
112.
Abingdon, 17.
Waterworks, 102.
Aldermaston, 17, 106.
Aldworth, 18.
Analyses of Avaters, 106.
Arborfield, 19.
Armitaoe Hill, 81.
Ascot, 19, 106.
Ashanipstead, 21.
Ashby, Dr. A.. 75, 90. 107, 108,
Atchison, A. T., 102.
Aveline, W. T. 15.
Bagmill, E.. 103.
Bagsliot Beds, 12.
Baker, S. F. .'v Son, 10, 41, -W.
Ballard, Dr., 2.», 106.
Baueriuan, U.,15.
Barton Court, 53.
Basildon, 22 ; Uppei', 24.
Bearwood, 25.
Beedon, 26.
Hill, 26.
Beenham, 26.
Bennett, F. J., 15, 21, 22, 24, 28, 29, 32,
49, 50, 57-60, 104.
Betteridge, J., 57-60.
Bourton, 27.
Bracklesham beds, 13.
Bradknell, 27.
Bradfield, 28.
Bramwell, Sir F.,7l.
Brightwell, 31.
Brimpton, 32.
Bristow, H. W., 15, 16.
Bulstrode, Dr. H. T., 94, 110.
Burnthill, 36.
Calcot Gardens, 84.
Callas, Messrs., 19, 29, 30-32,
47, 48, 51, 52, 56, 68, 70,
75-79, 83, 87, 88, 92, 100.
Campbell, D., 106.
Chalk, 7.
Challow, East, 37.
Cliieveley, 37.
Cholsey, 38.
Chm-ch, Mr., 26, 37, 39, 41, 49,
Clapton, 38.
Clewer Green, 38.
Cliitterbuck, Rev. J. C, 17.
Compton, 39.
Contamination of water, 1, 14.
Corallian, 4.
Curridge, 39.
Denchworth, 40.
De liance, C. E., 42, 43, 102.
Didcot, 41.
Drift deposits, 14.
Dupre, Dr. A., 106.
Dyer, Dr. B., 112.
Easton and Amos, Mes.srs., 25,
East Challow, 37.
Hendred, 41.
Woodhay, 41.
Elcot, 41.
34, 43,
72, 74,
61.
70.
Ellis, Miss F. E., 91.
Enborne, 41.
Engletield, 42.
Eton, 94.
Faringdon, 42.
Farley Hill, 43.
Formations, geological, 2.
Frilford, 44.
Frilsham, 44.
Gault, 6.
Geological formations, 2.
Geological Survey works, 15.
Goosey, 44.
Gravels, 14.
Grazeley, 47.
Greensand, Lower, 5.
Ujiper, 6.
Griggs, Mr., 73.
Grovelands, 48.
Grover,J. W., 61, 97.
Hagbourne, 49.
Hampstead Norris, 49.
Hawkins, C. E., 15, 20, 43.
Hawthorn Hill, 27.
Hendred, East, 41.
Higgs, J., 18,21, 22, 24, 28, 30, 36, 49,
65, 79, 104.
Hill, W., 96.
Hull, Prof. E., 15, 16,95.
Hungerford, 50.
Hnrley, 51.
Hurst', 5}.
Inkpen, 52.
Irving, Rev. A., 20.
Isler, Messrs., 50, 56, 64, 66, 89, 92, 93,
105.
Jennet Hill, 76.
Jones, Prof. T. R., 63, 71, 97.
Joyce, S., 38, 48, 54, 66-68, 74, 75, 84-
87.
Jukes-Browne, A. J., 6, 16, 41.
Jurassic, 3.
Kates^rove, 68.
Kimeridge Clay, 4.
King's Hiil, Burghtield, 34.
Kingston Lisle, 53, 107.
Kinsey, W. B., 42.
Kintbury, 53.
Lambert, C. J., 71.
Lambourn, 54.
Latham, B., 71.
Le Grand and Sutcliff, Messrs., 35, 37,
40, 44-47, 51, 55-57, 61, 76 82,
88, 90, 95, 101.
Lias, 3.
London Basin, 1.
Clay, 11.
Lower Greensand, 5.
Lyford, 55.
Maidenhead, 56.
Margi-ett, E., 17, 18, 31, 35, 36, 38, 41,
44, 47, 49, 62, 72-74, 81-83, 87
92, 101.
Marshall, A., 90.
IXDEX.
115
.Martin, (r., 90.
Menzics, W., 20, 92.
Merry weather and Sons, Messrs., 90.
Midgham, 56.
Midwinter, PI J. A., 110.
Mitchell, Dr. J., 65, 94, 95.
Moulsford, 57.
Newbury, 57.
Newton, E. T., 96.
Old Windsor, 63.
Oxford, 4.
— clay, 3.
Pangbourne, 65, 87.
Paten, R., 69.
Phillips, Prof. J., 3, 103.
Piper, Mr., 26, 29, 32, 36, 56, 75, 76, 100.
Piukneys, 66.
Plateau gravels, 14.
Pollution of water, ], 14.
Pohvliele, T. II., 15, 65, 93, 94,
Portland beds, 4.
Powers, E., 58, 60.
Prestwich, Sir J., 82.
Quill, A. M., 97, 99.
Rainfall, 15.
Ravenor, Mr., 38, 41, 53, 57, 60, 61.
Reading, 66.
beds, 9.
Redrup, Mr., 93.
Renienham, 69.
Rliin<l, W., 42.
Richards, P. A. C, 108.
Rofe, J., 69.
Rusconibe, 70.
Sandhurst, 70.
Sandleford Priory, 105.
Shea, Dr. J., 67.'
Shintield, 72.
Shottesbrook, 73.
Shrivenham, 73.
Simpson, J., 93, 95.
Sites for wells, 1.
Slade End, 95.
Smith, Mr., 50.
Sonning, 74. 108.
Sotwell, 75.
Southend, Brad field, 29.
Speller, Mr., 41.
Stanford Dingley, 75.
Stanford-in-the-Vale, 76.
Straluin, A., 89.
Strange, J. T., 17.
Strange and Sons, Messrs., 106.
Strattield Mortimer, 77, 108.
Streatley, 79.
St. Mary's College, Woolhampton, 101.
Sunninghill, 81.
Swallow-holes, 10.
Thatcham, 81.
Theale, 82.
Three Mile Cross, 83.
Tilehurst, 84.
Tilley and Sons, T., 27, 62, 73, 74, 81,
90.
Topley, W. 41.
Toutley, 99, 112.
Trench, R., 15, 38, 39, 63, 93.
Tyser, G. W., 108.
Twyford, 87, 108.
Upper Greensand, 6.
Valley (travels, 14.
Wallingford, 88.
Walter, J., 25.
Waltham St. Lawrence, 88.
, White, 91.
Wantage, 89.
Wargrave, 90, 108.
Waters, Analyses of, 106.
Contamination of, 1, 13, 14.
Wellington College, 70.
Wells, sites for, 1.
Whitaker, W., 15-17, 95, 105, etc
Whitley, 92.
White Waltham, 91.
Wickham, 38.
Windsor, 92, 110.
and Eton Waterworks, 94
Forest, 112.
, Old, 63.
Willink, H. G., 34.
Winkfield, 95, 112.
Winship, G., 27, 43.
Wokingham, 97, 112.
Woodhay, East, 41.
Woodley, 100.
Woodward, H. B., 3, 4, 16, 73, 89, 103.
Woolhampton, 100.
Wootton, 102.
Wytliam, 3, 4, 103.
Yattendon, 104.
Young, T., 66.
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