196 THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
of observations recorded by him in the Phil. Trans. of the Royal Society,
alludes to the digging of wells and borings in this parish and other parts of
Essex, but I have not been able to find any mention of this mineral spring.
It was enclosed in 1734 by Champion Branfill (primus), of Upminster Hall ;
but 100 years later a writer remarks : "Many persons now living recollect its being
enclosed, but it is now unenclosed and nearly filled with mud, which, and the
water, are both of a most nauseous smell, but tasteless." It was again cleared out
about four years ago, and the triangular fence erected by Champion Branfill
(sextus) of Martyns. Pieces of the dried earth, a kind of iron-clay, which was
then thrown out may still be picked up, and on breaking a lump the tiny
clusters of white crystals may be seen, embedded in the red clay, consisting
probably of sulphates of magnesia and lime.
On the 21st of June I paid a visit to this spot with our Hon. Sec. and his
brother, Mr. H. Cole, who then kindly drew the sketch for the illustration at the
beginning of this report, and made the following observations :—
The width of the well, which is somewhat obscured by grass and weeds, is
about 4 feet in diameter ; the depth from the surface of water to bottom was
then 5 feet 9 inches ; the temperature of the air being then 68°, the surface
water was $8°, and the bottom ranging from 53° to 54°.
We took samples of the surface water in its undisturbed state, which tasted
of iron, but not very strong or unpalatable. The water obtained from the
bottom was, however, very strong to the smell.
Mr. Wire took photographs of the party at the well, and the ramble was
then continued across the common to the starting point, and down the lane by
Great House and Aspen-tree Farm to the fine spring of pure water near Pot
Kilns, from which the cottagers far round still obtain their supply. It is of this
spring that Dr. Derham writes in his notes on the distribution of Earth and
Water in the "Physico-Theology :"—
" For an instance, I shall single out one in the Parish of Upminster where I
live, as being very proper for my purpose, and one that I have had better
opportunity of making remarks upon above twenty years. This in the greatest
droughts is little, if at all, diminished, that I could perceive by my eye, although
the ponds all over the country and an adjoining brook have been dry for many
months together, as particularly in dry summer months of the year 1705. And
in the wettest seasons, such as the summer and other months were preceding
the violent storm in November, 1703, I say in such wet seasons, I have not
observed any increment of its stream, excepting only for violent rains falling
therein, or running down from the higher land into it, which discoloureth the
water oftentimes, and makes an increase of only a day's or sometimes but a few
hours' continuance.
"Another considerable thing in this Upminster spring is, that it breaks out of
so inconsiderable an hillock or eminence of ground.
" The spring I judge level with, or but little higher than where my house
stands, and the land from whence it immediately issues, I guess about 15 or
20 feet higher than the spring and the lands above that of no very remarkable
height."
Mention was made by Mr. Crouch of other springs of drinkable water in the
parish, as those at Hacton and Corbets Tye. However clear and sparkling
these so-called "pure" springs may be, they contain a certain quantity of
mineral matter in solution, derived from the earth through which they percolate.
Some interesting plants are known to have grown formerly on Tyler's
Common, but it has not been lately explored ; the great number of sheep
pastured upon it do the greatest damage to the flora. A list of some plants
from Warley Common, a similar tract of land two miles or so distant, will be
found in Dr. De Crespigny's "New London Flora" (1877). Prof. Boulger's
note-book of the botanical observations made contained few items of interest.