Tuesday 12th July 1892
From the Warminster Herald, Saturday 16th July 1892:
Heytesbury. The Water Works.
On Tuesday, the 12th inst., [July 1892] Lady Heytesbury turned the first sod on Heytesbury Knoll in connection with the projected Heytesbury waterworks, Amongst those who were present at the ceremony were Lord Heytesbury, Messrs. A’Court, Eden, Charlton, Parker, W.E. Gillard, and Mr. John Wallis Titt, in whose hands the scheme had been placed. The spade used for the occasion was of solid brass, with box wood handle, with the following inscription: “Presented to the Lady Heytesbury, on the occasion of turning the first sod of the Heytesbury Water Works, July 12th, 1892. JOHN WALLIS TITT, Engineer.”
Her Ladyship was evidently highly pleased with the spade, and said she should treasure it all the more because it had been designed and made in the locality, at the Woodcock Iron Works. Lady Heytesbury then cut out the first sod, expressing a wish that “great results might follow from so small a beginning.”
Mr. Titt has fortunately secured the services of Mr. Hobbs, a well-sinker of great experience. In course of conversation the latter said he did not expect to reach water under 250 feet, and that he hoped to have the well sunk in about 3 months.
Mr. Titt’s idea in selecting Heytesbury Knoll is that it is the highest point on the Heytesbury estate. He purposes, when water is found, to sink pumps and erect a wind engine. The high elevation will then serve a double purpose. It will afford the most advantageous site for the reservoir, from which the water will be distributed through pipes by gravitation, and at the same time will tend to relieve the wind engine of purely local inflences, giving it a full and uninterrupted current of wind. It is proposed at first to lay a 3-in. main to Heytesbury House and East and West Hill Farms. It will then be seen that the initiatory ceremony here recorded is the beginning of what promises to be a most beneficent scheme for the adjoining village. It will confer a great boon on the inhabitants of Heytesbury and increase materially the value of the holdings on the estate. We trust the same success may attend Mr. Titt in his efforts here that has earned him so high a reputation for similar undertakings elsewhere.