Colin,
I guess the location of iron deposits in Nottinghamshire and the
old Stanton Iron Works suggests this 'red water' is suspended iron ?
Bea
On 5/19/99 2:33 PM Colin Jennings writes:
>
>Hello
>
>I am new to the list and would like to introduce myself.
>
>I live in Orston, a small village bordering the Vale of Belvoir and on
>the border of Nottinghamshire with Leicestershire. The list came to my
>attention when I made a search and found an entry regarding the
>'Discovery of a healing spring in Orston.' The reason that I have
>joined the list is to seek your help and advice.
>
>It is general knowledge within the village that a spring or spa existed
>somewhere in the area of Spa Lane and that its healing qualities had
>been described in several old documents. Stories were told of
>Grandmothers who regularly scrubbed the steps of the Spa at the weekends
>and the waters were described as 'bright red'. About three years ago a
>number of villagers decided to relocate the spa and carry out a dig.
>
>An elderly local farmer, Bernard Johnson, confirmed that during WW2 the
>spa had been filled in by German POWs and the land returned to
>agriculture. The spa was believed to be within an area of about 1500
>square metres and some 800 metres to the east of the village. By using a
>variety of methods, including local knowledge of older residents and
>water divining, the site of the spa was established. After a number of
>false starts, a number of limestone walls and three stone steps were
>revealed, leading to the paved floor of the spa. Further excavation
>revealed something entirely new, this being a capped stone lined well
>with a vertical opening at one end of the structure. . After all
>debris had been removed and despite the fact that we were then in a
>period of drought, both the well and the spa filled with 'bright red'
>water and the following twelve months were spent in draining the area in
>order to begin reconstruction.
>
>Rebuilding of the spa using stone found in the dig, together with a
>lime based mortar, has started.. Having rapidly come to the conclusion
>that the original spa would almost certainly have had a wall surrounding
>it above ground level we would be grateful for any information as to
>the usual height and finish of these structures.
>
>The above is a precis of our activities and measurements of the spa,
>water analysis, photographs and historic material can be published if
>the list is interested.
>
>Thank you for your time
>
>Colin Jennings
>
Beatrice Hopkinson 73071,327@compuserve
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