This celebrated boiling spring, or well, at Broseley, in Shropshire, was
discovered in the month of June, 1711. It was first announced by a
terrible noise in the night, there having been a remarkable
thunder-storm. Several persons who resided in the vicinity having been
awakened in their beds by this loud and rumbling noise, arose, and
proceeding to a bog under a small hill, about two hundred yards from the
river Severn, perceived a surprising commotion and shaking of the earth,
and a little boiling up of water through the grass. They took a spade,
and digging up a portion of the earth, the water immediately flew up to
a great hight, and was set on fire by a candle which was presented to
it. To prevent the spring from being destroyed, an iron cistern has been
placed over it, provided with a cover, and a hole in the center, through
which the water may be viewed. If a lighted candle, or any burning
substance, be presented to this aperture, the water instantly takes
fire, and burns like spirit of wine, continuing to do so as long as the
air is kept from it; but on removing the cover of the cistern, it
quickly goes out. The apparent boiling and ascent of the water of this
spring, are still more obviously the result of hydrogen gas, or
inflammable air, than in the preceding instance of Wigan well.