On an ebbing and flowing stream discovered by boring in the harbour of Bridlington

Abstract

In the year 1811, with a view to making certain improvements in the port of Bridlington, an examination was made of the depth of a stratum of clay, and another of gravel, at some distance below high-water mark. At low water the harbour is dry, and at high water it has from fifteen to seventeen feet of water in the deepest part. The spot fixed upon for boring, has about six feet of water in ordinary tides. After boring through 28 feet of clay, and subsequently through a mixed stratum of chalk and gravel, the augur was found to strike against a solid rock, on which that instrument could make no impression, and the work was discontinued, without any appearance of water at that time rising in the bore. But in the course of an hour or two it was observed to be filled to the top with very limpid fresh water, which, after a short time, was projected some inches above the summit, in a stream equal to its calibre. As the water was found to be fit for washing, and all culinary purposes, the bore was first secured by an elm stock ten feet long, and perforated with a three-inch augur, through which was passed a copper tube of the same diameter, well tinned to the depth of 32 feet, and which thus reached from the bottom of the elm stock to the solid rock, in order to preserve a supply of water for the use of the town.