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Page 116:-
and on the margin of the river, the celebrated spa issues
into day. The strata below the surface mould are said to be
disposed in the following order:- First, a course of
stratified sandstone, then bituminous shale, which includes
a stratum of aluminous schistus, and next porphyry slate,
beneath which the sulphurated water issues through a leaden
tube, enclosed in a small stone fountain, at the rate of two
gallons and a half per minute. The whole height of the
precipice is about 90 feet. The strata are intersected by
two veins, one upon each side of the sulphurated water,
which commencing at the surface, approximate pretty
uniformly until they reach the river, at which place they
are about 150 yards distant. These veins are composed of
calcareous spar and iron pyrites, and contain the
above-mentioned strata between them.
This water is remarkably transparent; when poured from one
tumbler into another, it sparkles very briskly. To most
palates the taste is very agreeable, being somewhat
accidulous, and it has generally been found to sit lightly
on the stomach. The smell is so strongly impregnated with
sulphur as to extend to the distance of several yards. It
was originally known by the name of the Holy Well, also by
that of Wardrew Spa, the latter name being taken from the
tenement and farm on the Northumberland side of the water,
and which appears to have been, at one time, the only
original place of entertainment. The present mansion was
erected in 1752, and is a large and elegantly-
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