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Swallowhead Springs

Swallowhead Springs, Avebury

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VBB V
VBB Dec 7, 2012 15:45:12
Replying to Sanctuary

A water engineer talking on R4 around 2000-1 explained that swallow is a term adopted at sites where rainwater hasn't penetrated the ground deep enough to be filtered of bugs from animal poo - for swallow head read shallow spring. I have not been able to find any further refeence to it though.

It did make me wonder if those springs named swallow were all in sheep country. Anyone know?

N nigelswift
nigelswift Dec 7, 2012 20:48:35
Replying to VBB

VBB wrote:
A water engineer talking on R4 around 2000-1 explained that swallow is a term adopted at sites where rainwater hasn't penetrated the ground deep enough to be filtered of bugs from animal poo - for swallow head read shallow spring. I have not been able to find any further refeence to it though.

It did make me wonder if those springs named swallow were all in sheep country. Anyone know?

Well swallow holes tend to form in limestone and limestone country is good for raising sheep, so swallow holes and swallets tend to be in sheep country. This doesn't help.

You're welcome.