Springhill Resident Charles Patrick died in 1895 and left a codicil to his will referring to the 'water in Saunder Height'.

Patrick was a major landowner in his own right and also via his marriage to Mary Ann Ashworth, who as the heiress of John Ashworth, coal merchant, had a considerable portfolio of his own. Patrick had no children of his own and left his local property to the nieces of his wife, who had predeceased him. These were put into trust on the marriages of the nieces.

At the time of drawing up his will he had bought a field at Saunder Height, about 300 yards up the hill behind Springhill which was left to Elizabeth Ann Turner, nee Ashworth. An adjacent close was left to her sister Mary Alice Royds, nee Ashworth. Since writing the will he had taken borings and discovered a source of water in the land left to Mrs Turner which was capable of supplying the properties in the Springhill area. He then wished both sisters to benefit equally from this discovery so added a codicil revoking the allocation of the closes and directing that each should share the profits but also be able to 'lay down such pipes and culverts at they think fit' to use the water to supply their properties without the consent of the other.

I would love to know how that worked in practice, with the potential for chaos that opens up. However some of the Springhill properties are still supplied from the Saunder Height supply.