22 HISTORY OF COLCHESTER CORPORATION WATER WORKS.
valley level with the top of the London-clay. The existence of
springs in early times combined with other favourable geo-
graphical and geological conditions no doubt influenced the
early inhabitants, and later on the Roman Colony, to establish an
important station here. The springs which we know to-day
probably formed the water supply of the early communities,
and there is ample evidence, from the existence of a number of
wells which have been found, that the Romans utilized the gravel
beds within the walls of their station to supply their wants.
Probably the springs just outside the walls of the Roman
city at the foot of Balkern Hill, and in the railway cutting by
St. Botolph's Station (which are thrown out by the London-
clay), were also used by the early inhabitants of the city. These
springs are still in possession of the Corporation, but are used
only for non-domestic purposes. For many years they formed
the sources of the early water works. It is somewhat remarkable
that history repeats itself even in water supplies, as it remained
for the present community to further utilize the gravel beds
to which I have referred, but under entirely different conditions,
to supplement their deep well supply, by bringing into use those
wonderful Lexden Springs which yield so much water from the
same plateau of gravel, but some mile and three quarters west
of the town and water works, and which it is the province of
these notes to describe in some detail.
The site of the present water works is at the foot of Balkern
Hill, just outside the Roman wall, in close proximity to the
springs already referred to. It also formed the site of the early
water works constructed in 1808 to supply the town with
water from land springs overlying the London-clay. The
engineer, who ever he then was, was not slow to recognise the
advantage of the site due to the existence of the springs, which he
freely used to supply to the town. The late Mr. Peter Bruff
stated in 1850 that, in consequence of the springs having to a
great extent run low, it was necessary to seek for a more efficient
supply. These springs, however, remained in use for many
years, notwithstanding this remark, yielding as late as 1888
some 86,000 gallons per day in summer and probably more in
winter. In early days the yield was no doubt considerably
more, as many of the springs were diverted in other directions
and have since disappeared from view for ever when the main