Digbeth Mineral Water Works and Well

[mikejee]

Looking at the Bradford map of 1750, I am wondering if the small circular features marked with arrows might be wells, and in particular, whether the green arrow might indicate the well mentioned near the school which gave rise to the name Well lane. These features seem to be particularly present around digbeth,, though do show up on other palces on the map. Unfortunately, this is the highest resolution copy I can find of the map. Presumably the original in the library would show things more clearly

 

[Vivienne14]

Good point Mike. I wonder what form these structures might take. Would it be simply be surrounded by brick with a mechanism above to lower and raise buckets ? Or would it be a hand pump like the Cock Pump outside St Martin’s Church ?

Be interesting to map these out on a modern plan. Viv.

 

[Vivienne14]

If the reservoir was supplying these wells with water would it have been via pipes ? I ask this because to me Peter Hazlitt’s “gullets” doesn’t suggest pipes. Viv.

 

[Astoness]

Looking at the Bradford map of 1750, I am wondering if the small circular features marked with arrows might be wells, and in particular, whether the green arrow might indicate the seem to be particularly present around digbeth,, though do show up on other palces on the map. Unfortunately, this is the highest resolution copy I can find of the map. Presumably the original in the library would show things more clearly

View attachment 175597

mike thats seems a good assumption to me....and i take it the 2nd blue arrow from the left being the well where the digging is going on with alison st on the right but not named..i think what an interesting thread this is turning out to be

lyn

 

[Vivienne14]

Just noticed the possible ‘wells’ that Mike has marked on the map in post #151 are alongside vegetation/gardens etc. So another point in favour of them being water sources. Viv.

 

[mikejee]

Viv
The Hazllitt article referred to the system in place after the Goff spring was utilised. The 1750 map refers to the situation before that when there were just separate wells in different places in Digbeth area. I am not clear ifsome of the wells referred to in his article were the same as those that are on the map (if that is what those features on the map were}.

 

[Vivienne14]

Thanks Mike. As always, lots of ifs and buts ! If the dig is extensive enough we might find out a bit more about the (later) gullet system- always hopeful. Viv.

 

[pjmburns]

If the reservoir was supplying these wells with water would it have been via pipes ? I ask this because to me Peter Hazlitt’s “gullets” doesn’t suggest pipes. Viv.

According to the dictionary a gullet is simply a channel to carry water. I suppose it depends whether they were on the surface to buried in the ground what they were like.

 

[mikejee]

I think I have posted this before, but not sure where.

 

[Vivienne14]

I’m amazed Mike. I’d expect that to rot over time, but in the absence of anything better, I’m sure it did the job. Don’t think I’d recognise it as anything important. It makes you wonder what’s beneath our feet and even if you dig something up, do you appreciate what it is ? Hopefully the Well/Allison Street dig will uncover further interesting finds.

Useful to have that date guide for the possible more widespread use of metal water pipes in Birmingham from 1830s onwards.

The image attached, believe it or not, is a water pipe from Liverpool. However, not on the scale of that in post #159. Viv

 

[mikejee]

Viv
Where the situation is anaerobic, with no oxygen and water saturated, wood can be preserved. That's how the Vasa and the Mary Rose in part survived.

 

[Seanyb1986]

My photo taking skills are not the best, away from the spring for a day or 2,

uncovering under the cobbles i suspect were court 17

We have what looks like a pebble walkway or road

Things are getting a bit exciting

 

[Pedrocut]

Sharpened the second picture a bit…

 

[Seanyb1986]

May be as old as medievil im told

 

[Vivienne14]

How deep is that cobbled surface Sean ? Viv.

 

[Seanyb1986]

The cobbles are on the top, the layer of pebbles is maybe 3 ft lower, there are many different layers of ground that the archaeologists are interested in and there may be more below yet

 

[Pedrocut]

Looking at one of the last of Sen’s pictures. Could the shape of the brickwork, on the right hand side above the pipes, have any significance?

 

[mikejee]

Great pictures. I have cleaned them up a bit

 

[Seanyb1986]

The brickwork you speak of is indeed significant, and unexpected

 

[Seanyb1986]

A lot of the brickwork is part collapsed, and different ages, so dont be fooled by some looking abnormal

 

[Seanyb1986]

Lots of archeaologists debating what we have here

 

[Seanyb1986]

Im restricted where i can dig at the moment, the more we find, the more chance of digging more

 

[Pedrocut]

Thanks for keeping us informed, much appreciated.

 

[mikejee]

I wondered if it might be footings for the back of the slaughterhouse.

 

[Seanyb1986]

????

 

[Astoness]

many thanks from me too sean...this sort of thread is exactly what this forum is all about...learning about the history beneath our feet

lyn

 

[Seanyb1986]

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