Caterham Spring Water Co
Active 1864-1885
1859 '...in the autumn of 1859 a Well was sunk, under the direction of Mr. S. C. Homersham, C.E., at Stanstead, about a mile to the south of Caterham, on a hill, commanding the surrounding country, and copious supply of excellent Spring Water having been attained, Waterworks were erected, and distributing pipes laid throughout the parish of Caterham, which is now supplied in all directions, and to the tops of the houses, on the system of constant supply with pure soft Spring Water....'[1]
1864 Incorporated. Prospectus.[2]
1879 '...The lower green sand at Caterham has just been readied at the depth of 851 feet from the surface, and abundant supply of pure water is now flowing from it and will shortly be used in the district supplied the Caterham Spring Water Company. The boring operations were commenced July 29 last with a boring of 18 inches diameter, and the lower green sand was reached with a diameter of 15 inches, solid cores of the strata passed through having been obtained....[3]
1879 'The "hole" being put down by the Diamond Rock Boring Company, for the Caterham Spring Water Company, is now nearly completed. The boring, which is for water, has been carried through the grey chalk, chalk, chalk marl, upper greensand, gault clay, and is now in the lower greensand, which was tapped at a depth of 851 ft. The "hole" is now sunk to a depth of 862 ft. Judging from the appearances of the sand brought to the surface, it is anticipated that water will be met with very shortly. The boring is lined from the surface to within a short distance of the bottom with wrought iron tubes, 18in. diameter. The apparatus used is the patented machinery of the company. Of the machine the special feature is the "crown." This is ring of steel, around the bottom surface of which diamonds, or carbonate, are set. The crown is attached to a hollow steel tube; to the top of this hollow rod of smaller size is made fast. The crown is revolved, a column of water is passed down inside the rods, which passes underneath the cutting face of the crown and escapes by the outside, carrying away the debris produced by the cutting. This is introduced for the purpose of keeping the diamonds cool. The crown, working in a ring, it follows that a solid core is produced. The core when formed is passed into a core tube, and is kept from falling out on withdrawing the rods by means of sliding wedges, or clips, which allow the core to pass freely up, but prevent its returning. One notable advantage of this system when compared with the old, laborious method of hand boring, is that it affords at every stage of the work a perfect sample of the strata in course of penetration.'[4]
1879 'The complaints grievances that have been made against the Caterham Spring Water Company, in connection with the epidemic which followed the occidental pollution of the water supplied by them from their wells at Caterham, and in connection also with the turbidity which characterised the fluid long prior to that event...'[5]
1881 'A special meeting of the Caterham Spring Water Company called for the 13th proximo, to consider a Bill to take over the Kenley Waterworks Company, Limited.'[6]
1885 Became the East Surrey Water Co.[7]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Sussex Advertiser - Tuesday 20 September 1864
- ↑ Sussex Advertiser - Tuesday 20 September 1864
- ↑ Shipping and Mercantile Gazette - Tuesday 25 February 1879
- ↑ Surrey Advertiser - Saturday 01 March 1879
- ↑ Croydon Observer - Thursday 30 October 1879
- ↑ York Herald - Wednesday 30 March 1881
- ↑ Croydon Observer - Thursday 19 February 1885