ADDENDA. 69
paces from a certain spot and then jump on the surface of the soil,
by which means we. were enabled, by the hollow sound, to locate
the well beneath. I believe the well is not closed in with brick-
work, as you state. When I was a boy, tradition said that the well
had been merely covered with planks and turfed over, because some
animal had met its death by falling down it. Such statement was
made on the authority of an old inhabitant, the parent of one of my
companions."
The Mark's Hall Spring (p. 29).—Mr. E. E. Turner writes: —
"I believe that I am able to indicate the site of this spring. It is,
doubtless, that situated in the meadow known as ' Ladle Meadow,'
between Mark's Hall Rectory and Tilkey, Coggeshall. Here, at the
corner of a boggy grove, which is called ' The Well Plantation ' on
the 6-inch Ordnance Survey Map, there is still to be seen a stone
basin, with a chain attached to it, which was formerly connected
with a drinking cup. The water which flows into the basin is
supplied by a quick-running brooklet, which rises near the top of
the plantation and runs down the side of the meadow above-named.
Close at hand is an hydraulic ram, worked by the stream, which I
believe supplies the water to Bourchier's Grange. I first became
familiar with this basin nearly thirty years ago, when I was told that
it was 'a petrifying spring,' and that, if pieces of wood were left in
it, they would eventually become turned into stone—a statement
which I questioned, pointing out that it was a case of encrustation
merely, due to a limy deposit left by the water. The chain men-
tioned is still considerably encrusted by such a deposit." While it is
probable that this is the spring in question, it is impossible to be
certain ; for Allen gives no indication whatever as to the exact
position in the parish of the spring he mentions.
The Colchester Spring (p. 31).—But for Allen's statement that
this spring was at "the north end" of the town, one would feel
inclined to identify it with a well-known spring in Childwell Alley.
The latter is, however, in the south-east portion of the town, near
St. Botolph's Priory. It is said that it was formerly customary for
women who were with child to visit this spring and to drink its
waters, owing to their salutary properties : hence its name. That
this name is very ancient is certain ; for the well has clearly given
name to the Alley in which it is, and the Alley is mentioned in the
records of the Borough at an early date. In the present day, the
waters of the well retain a certain reputation as a cure for sore eyes.
At an inquest recently held on a man who, having a diseased heart,