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Broseley. A market town in the franchise of Wenlock, a rectory in the diocese of Hereford, the deanery of Wenlock, and archdeaconry of Salop. 1019 houses, 4814 inhabitants. The depression of trade is stated as the cause of diminished population in Broseley, which, in 1811 contained 4850 inhabitants. Market on Wednesday, Fairs on April 25, and October 28. 14 miles south-east of Shrewsbury. In the year 1711, was discovered at Broseley, a very remarkable burning spring, of which the Rev. Mr. Mason Woodwarden professor at Cambridge, gives the following account. “The well for four or five feet deep, is six or seven feet wide, within that is another less hole of like depth, dug in the clay; in the bottom whereof is placed a cylindrick earthen vessel, of about four or five inches diameter at the mouth, having the bottom taken off, and the sides well fixed in, the clay rammed close about it. Within the pot is a brown water as thick as puddle, continually forced up with a violent motion, beyond that of boiling water, and a rumbling hollow noise, rising and falling by fits, five or six inches; but there was no appearance of any vapour rising, which perhaps might have been visible, had not the sun shone so bright. Upon putting a candle down at the end of a stick, at a quarter of a yard distance, it took fire, darting and flashing after a very violent manner, for about half a yard high, much in the manner of spirits in a lamp, but with great agitations. It was said that a teakettle had been made to boil in about nine minutes time, and that it had been left burning for forty eight hours, without any sensible diminution. It was extinguished by putting a wet mop upon it, which it was necessary to keep there for a considerable time, otherwise it would not go out. Upon the removal of the mop, there arises a sulphureous smoke, lasting about a minute, and yet the water is cold to the touch. The cause of this inflammable property, is most probably the mixture of the waters with petroleum, which is one of the most inflammable substances in nature, and has the property of burning, on the surface of water. In the year 1755, this Well entirely disappeared, by the sinking of a coal pit in its neighbourhood. See appendix.

Source: The Shropshire Gazetteer, with an Appendix, including a Survey of the County and Valuable Miscellaneous Information, with Plates. Printed and Published by T. Gregory, Wem, 1824