AT HANGMAN'S WOOD, GRAYS. 263
driven. These are level at first, but after a few yards they incline up
towards the surface, which they almost reach, thus forming an inclined
plane for the chalk hewn to run down into the boxes under the shaft.
Ladders are, I am told, sometimes used by the men to ascend the
"angles." As many as three, and sometimes four of these angles are
driven. After all the chalk wanted has been extracted, parts of the
"quoins," or divisions between the headings are usually knocked
away, though this is sometimes neglected. This causes the well to
fall in, forming a "dell" or hollow at the surface of the ground, and
in most cases obliterating all traces of the workings; though this
would vary, I should imagine, with the character of the chalk. The
aim is to cause a dell so even and shallow as not to interfere with the
plough. But while a dell, resulting from a shallow surface pit, would
usually involve the removal of a large quantity of sand, clay-with-
flints, etc., as well as chalk, the material removed from a chalk-well
would be almost entirely pure chalk.
One other view may govern the depth of the chalk-well, and that
is the idea that chalk from a depth is preferable, as being "stronger."
I gathered that this meant that its effect as manure was more
lasting.
A chalk-well 20 ft. deep, and with three angles, will dress eight
acres. The amount put on is 800 bushels to the acre, and the cost
from 30s. to 32s. per acre. The boxes used for hauling up the chalk
hold two bushels.
Distribution of Chalk Wells.—A certain regularity in the distri-
bution of the chalk-wells arises from the fact that wells of equal
depths dress a corresponding area of land, and that if a regular
amount be taken from each well, their distances apart would tend to
be regular, as regards those on the same occupation. Chalk-wells
are in general use to the N., N.E. and W. of Newbury, in the tracts
of the Upper Chalk, or where the Tertiary beds are thin. Mr. H. B.
Woodward informs me that shafts in chalk for chalking are also sunk
in the southern parts of Buckinghamshire.
Chalk Wells for Lime,—Wells sunk for extracting chalk and
burning it into lime are carried out in rather a different way from
those for chalking land. They are often sunk to a depth of 60 ft. in
the Chalk-with-flints, and then headings are driven at the bottom of
the shaft. These extend some way in, and only very slightly slope up
from the shaft (see Fig. 11). When all the chalk wanted for the time
has been extracted, they are sometimes bricked over at the top for safety.