Natural history -- England -- Wiltshire; Wiltshire (England) -- History
*At Tunbridge and Epsom Wells, where were only wild commons, now are
abundance of well-built houses. [The changes and improvements at
Tunbridge Wells have been very great since Aubrey wrote. In 1832 I
wrote and published an octavo volume—“Descriptive Sketches of Tunbridge
Wells and the Calverley Estate”, with maps and prints. Since that time
the railroad has been opened to that place, which will increase its
popularity. Epsom Wells are now deserted. At Melksham, in the vicinity
of Seend, a pump-room, baths, and lodging-houses were erected about
twenty-five years ago; but fashion has not favoured the place with her
sanction. See Beauties of Wiltshire, vol. iii.—J. B.]
When the springs doe breake in Morecombe-bottom, in the north side of
the parish of Broad Chalke, which is seldome, ’tis observed that it
foretells a deer yeare for corne. It hath discontinued these forty
yeares.
At Crudwell, neer to the mannour house, is a fine spring in the street
called Bery-well. Labourers say it quenches thirst better than the
other waters; as to my tast, it seemed to have aliquantulum aciditatis;
and perhaps is vitriolate. The towne, a mannour of the Lord Lucas, hath
its denomination from this well; perhaps it is called Crudwell from its
turning of milke into cruds.
At Wotton Basset, in the parke, is a petrifying water, which petrifies
very quickly.
At Huntsmill, in this parish, is a well where the water turnes leaves,
&c. of a red colour.
Below the Devises, the water in all the ditches, at the fall of the
leafe, lookes blewish, which I could not but take notice of when I was
a schoole boy.
In the parish of Lydyard-Tregoz is a well called by the country people
Antedocks-well (perhaps here was the cell of some anchorete or
hermite); the water whereof they say was famous heretofore in the old
time for working miracles and curing many diseases.
As I rode from Bristoll to Welles downe Dundery-hill, in the moneth of
June, 1663, walking down the hill on foot, presently after a fine
shower I sawe a little thinne mist arise out of the ditch on the right
hand by the highwayes side. But when I came neer to the place I could
not discern it: so I went back a convenient distance and saw it again;
and then tooke notice of some flower or weed that grew in the ditch
whence the vapour came. I came againe to the marke, and could see
nothing of a mist, as before; but my nose was affected with a smell
which I knew; but immediately it came not to my mind; which was the
smell of the canales that come from the bathes at Bath. By this time my
groom was come to me, who, though of a dull understanding, his senses
were very quick; I asked him if he smelt nothing, and after a sniff or
two, he answered me, he smelt the smell of the Bath. This place is
about two parts of three of the descent of Dundery-hill,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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