Brandreth Report on the Survey of Chat Moss

Report:- On Friday last arrived at Bury Lane about eleven o'clock, and met Mr. Stephenson just coming off the Moss. He has been over the whole length, bat returned with me as far as the Astley path. We first-examined an Embankment of about 150 Yards in length and 50 feet high, it had been formed, in two lots, which were now joined, by waste buttings from the edge of the Moss, which would improve the value of the Land, they were take from. It appeared to stand remarkably well; the sides are regularly built up with sods at an angle of 45’; the little unevenness which is now perceptible, probably arises from the different times of formation, and will be diminished when the whole is equally dry. The ditches which has been cut eight feet deep to the bottom of the Moss, and which, as remarked, by Mr Loch, had shrunk from four to one or two feet wide, has been opened out again to four feet wide, and being now dry did not shew any symptoms of further shrinking. We next examined the first cutting through a high part of the Moss, and the embankment formed by the stuff got out. On this part a temporary Rail road is laid abort 400 yards in length, which will soon join the first mentioned embankment, when about 700 yards may be laid. At present it is both crooked and uneven, and wants laying again. I observed a slight wavering motion as the waggons passed over; there is no material placed upon the road except Fir branches to support the Sleepers, which are round Fir Poles. At the low part of the line a Brick culvert is in preparation to carry the water under the road. A second cutting is in progress beyond, which will carry an Embankment across the low part, and join the former work in a few months. As it has been raining the whole night, and was then raining heavily I wished to enquire what became of the water which fell on the surface of the Moss. We therefore went up the astley path to Mr.Vignoles line, where we found the ditches full of water, and running very freely. The upper or south side was covered with water and full of pools, while the lower side was comparatively free. The walking on the road from not having been much trodden was tolerably good though the ditches in the flow Moos, and indeed the whole upper side, were so soft as to take a Man over head immediately. The Drains in the [missing word] road had very little water in them, which appears attributable to two causes; first in the protection offered by the ditches on the upper line; secondly to its proximity to the edge of the Moss, and to the old peat rooms, which have produced fissures in the Moss, which are distinctly seen where they are cut through by the ditches and through which the water escapes with great readiness. The flow Moss, though improved, is still very soft, and appears to require some more effectual mode of drainage. Mr Stephenson agreed to cut guard ditches, and to lay a path for the