“The depth of the salt springs is in some places not above three or four yards. In Nantwich the pit is full 7 yards (deep) from the footing about the pit: which is guessed to be the natural height of the ground, though the bank be 6 foot higher, accidentally raised by rubbish of long making salt or “walling,” as they call it. In two places within our Township, the spring breaks up so in the meadows as to fret away not only the grass, but part of the earth, which lies like a breach at least half a foot or more lower than the turf of the meadow: and hath a salt liquid ousing (oozing) as it were out of the meed but very gently. “_Droitwich_ possesses three fountaines yielding plenty of water to make salt of, divided asunder by a little brooke of fresh water passing betweene, by a peculiar gift of nature spring out: out of which most pure white salt is boiled for six months every yeare, to wit, from Midsommer to Midwinter, in many set fornaces round about: wherewith a mighty deal of wood is consumed, _Fakenham Forest_ (where trees grew sometime thicker), and the woods round about, if men hold their peace, will by their thinness, make manifest more and more....” Of the two wells of salt-water at _Middlewich_, which are separated by a small brook, we are only told that “one stands not open but at certain set times, because folke willingly steale the watere thereof, as being of great vertue and efficacie.” More informative on essential points is the unknown correspondent of George Johnson, who writes as follows-- “_Namptwich._ “There is in the town of Namptwich two hundred and sixteen salt-houses of six leads apeece, and every of the said houses doth spend in wood per annum eight pounds so as there is spent in wood yearly within the said town in omnibus annis.... £1728 “_Middlewich._ “There is, in the said town, one hundred and seven salt houses of six leads apeece, and one of four leads and every of the said houses doth spend yearly in wood the sum of £13. 6. 8, so as there is spent every year within the said town, £1435. 4. 0. “_Northwich._