264 REPORT ON THE DENEHOLE EXPLORATION
I will quote from a letter from Luke Lowsley, Esq., of the Manor
House, Hampstead Norris. He says:—"The chalk-wells for kilns
are sunk deep enough in the chalk to stand, the headings are started
from the bottom of the shaft in all directions, about three, with the
quoins very narrow at the shaft, but the headings are driven straight,
increasing in width and height as they go, and the bottom of the
shaft or mouth of the 'angle' is the lowest point. They are
generally about 6 ft. wide, 8 ft. high, arched, and I never knew one
Fig. 11.—Section and Plan of Chalk-Well for Lime.—From a drawing by F. J. Bennett.
angle under another (i.e., I suppose that all the angles start at the
same level from the bottom of the shaft, F. J. B.), as another shaft
would be less expensive. I have often known cross angles, about
10 ft. in from one heading to another. When used up another is
made near, and the digging from the new pit is used to fill up the
mouth of the old one."
I have measured two such wells; one was near Hampstead Norris,
the other at Basildon, and each of them was 60 ft. deep. In both