118
WELLS ON FOWLNESS ISLAND, ANCIENT
AND MODERN.
BY W. H. DALTON, F.G.S., F.C.S.
[Read Feb. 19th, 1908.]
IN the very successful excursion to Fowlness on May 25th
1907, from partaking in which I was unfortunately debarred
at the last minute, Mr. B. C. Hall, of the Lodge Farm,
exhibited, and very kindly lent to our President, some interesting
papers relating to the sinking of artesian wells on the island, at
a time when the only sources of water-supply were open ponds
and tanks or butts for collection of rain-water. It is recorded
that in extreme cases the occupants of isolated thatched cottages
had been driven to use storm-water from shallow depressions,
and even from ruts in the tracks that pass for roads in this
primitive region.
The papers referred to consist of (1) a letter dated from Ports-
mouth Dock, April 15th, 1725, tendering advice as to the sinking
of wells ; (2) au account of the earlier stages of a boring in Fowl-
ness in the following summer, and (3) a section to scale of a
rather recent boring.
The first two of these are here reproduced verbatim :—
Sr.
On your telling me that you intended to sink a Dry Well at Foulness,
I herewith send you a Scetch, & the Exact Charge of the Two Wells we have in
this Yard & think it necessary further that yon Observe, that according to the
Nature of the Ground at Foulness the difficulty may be Somewhat less, or much
greater, even as the Ground proves impossible to be done. As particularly in the
Digging part in case of a Bed (or Rock) of Stone : Twill therefore be necessary
to try that (if not already done) by Boaring or Otherwise, Or if the place be
much Higher than the High Water Mark, lis probable you'l be Obliged to digg
further before you come at a Bed of Clay or Stiff Marle to begin your Boaring
for your Lower Spring, Or in case the Ground be too loose so as fo admitt the
Sea Water, or other Top Springs proceeding from the Rains which will cause a
greater charge of Pumping untill you have compleated your Dry Well which
must be Steind with Brick, rammd with Clay to make it Thight before you
begin to Boar.
Before you begin your work twill be necessary to get 8 or 10 Thousand of
Bricks ready made to an Arch suitable to the Diamiter of the Well you intend to
make, As suppose it be 6ft Diamr in the fashon describ'd in the Margine about
12in Long each 6in Broad in the Middle & 3in Thick. When you begin to Digg
your Well by placeing of Pumps you must keep out all the Top Springs till
you come at a Bed of Firm Clay or Stiff Marle whereon you may begin the
Foundation of your well with Buck & Ram a sufficient Bed of Clay on the Back-
side to keep it Thight.