MINERAL WATERS AND MEDICINAL SPRINGS OF ESSEX. 231
(16).—The Hornchurch Lane Spring.—Trinder says119:—
" In Horn-Church Lane, about a mile from Romford, a small spring of water
rises to view ; which, I believe, hath not been hitherto much noticed nor regarded.
It is perfectly clear : it has no peculiar taste ; and it is inodorous."
After detailing the usual experiments, fourteen in number, he
continues120:—
" It appears that this almost-pure water is impregnated with an alkaline salt
and with but little or no terrestrial matter.
"This excellent water, if used as a common drink, will act as a good
resolvent in all coagulations from acids. It is likely to retard the approaches of
an early gout and to be serviceable where there be a sluggish viscous phlegm
(occasioned by the acetous fermentation in the stomach) ; and, also, it may do
good in concretions from fat tenacious humours, as in jaundice, rheumatism, and
scurvy.
" Bread made from this light water must be excellent, and it deserves the
regard of the frugal laundress, for she will use less soap in washing her linen with
this than with common water."
This spring (which has long been known as "The Havering
Well") still exists and is easily identifiable. It (or perhaps one
should say the receptacle into which its water runs) is in the
ditch on the east side of the road from Romford to Hornchurch,
about a mile south from Romford and about twenty-five yards
north of the angle in the road.121 The whole of the meadow land,
covering an area of some ten or twenty acres, in this angle of
the road (at the back of the Roneo Company's Factory, that is)
is moist and full of springs, so that it is impossible to say
precisely where the spring head may be ; but, by the roadside, at
the spot above mentioned, the water accumulates in a small
barrel, which is let into the ground so that its top is level with
the surface.122
The well in question must have been formerly of much
greater consequence than now ; otherwise it would hardly have
become known by the name of the ancient "Liberty" in which
it lies. It gives name in turn to the Hamlet of Havering-Well
(in Hornchurch parish) in which it is situated, as well as to
Havering-Well Farm and Villa, both being near.
Its former fame as a medicinal spring is not forgotten locally ;
for Mr. Christy was informed that its water is still reputed to
119 Medicinal Waters in Essex, p. 20 (1783)
120 Op. cit., pp. 21-23.
121 It is marked both on Chapman and Andre's Map of Essex (1777) and on the 6-inch
Ordnance Map.
122 One of the deep wells and pumping stations of the South Essex Waterworks Company
stands within a hundred yards of the spring, but the two have, of course, no relation to one
another.