167

EXCURSION TO THE : DISTRICT.

JULY 20TH, 21sT, 22ND, 23RD, 24TH, AND 25TH, 1874.

Directors: Thos. Wright, Esq., M:.D., F.R.S.E., F.G.S. j the Rev. W. S. Symonds, M:.A., F.G.S. j W. C. Lucy, Esq., F.G.S. j and J. Logan Lobley, Esq., F.G.S. (Report by u-. LoMey.)

VALE OF SEVERN. Members arrlved at Cheltenham about mid-day, and were enter­ tained at luncheon by Dr. Wright, who received the party at the railway station. That a general idea of 'the geology and physio­ graphy of the district might be obtained as early as possible, the afternoon of the first day was devoted to a visit to Churchdown Hill, an outlier of t,he Jurassic rocks of the Cotteswolds, standing well out in the Vale of Severn, a few miles south of Cheltenham. The summit was reached after a somewhat steep ascent, and the atmosphere being clear, a fine view of the great Vale of Severn was obtained. The Palesozoic western boundary from the Malvcrns to M:ay Hill and the Forest of Dean was equally conspicuous with the Mesozoic Cotteswolds and their two outliers of Breedon Hill and Robin Hood's Hill on the eastern side, while the flat-bottomed vale of Trias, Lias, and Alluvium stretched far to the north and far to the south, with, in the midst, the Severn flowing past Wor­ cester, , and , and broadening to its estuary. After describing the geology of the country within view, Dr. Wright pointed out that Churchdown Hill was a typical outlier, and corresponded stratigraphically with the lower portion of the Cotteswold escarpment, from which the outlier is distant about a mile, the base being composed of the Lower Lias, which rises to some distance up the hills, succeeded by the Middle Lias, with a small amount of Upper Lias forming the summit. Descending the hill, a visit was paid to the vicarage, at the hospitable invitation of the Rev. Dr. Smythe, F.G.S., who exhibited to his visitors a collec­ tion including local Liassic fossils. The party then returned to Cheltenham, and, in the evening, dined together at the Queen's Hotel. THE COTTESWOLDS. On Tuesday morning the Motnbers proceeded in carriages to Leckhampton Hill, at the foot of which they alighted, and, walk- 168 EXCURSION TO THE CHELTENHAM DISTl\lCT.

ing Up the gradually-ascending road, obtained more' and more ex­ pansive views of the beautiful and well-wooded vale, with the wide­ spreading town of Oheltenham, overshadowed by the neighbour­ ing Ootteswolds. About mid-way to the summit Dr. Wright, with maps and sections spread on the hill side, described the Jurassic Series of Gloucesterehire, one member of which-the Inferior Oolite-is typically represented at Leckhampton Hill, and is exposed as follows :-

Upper 'I'rigonia Grit Zone of AmmonitesParkinsoni,Ragstone Grypbite Grit fLower Trigonia Grit Zone of Ammonites Humphrealanus, Upper Freestone Oolite Marl Zone of Ammonitos Mnrchisonilll Lower Freestones ~ Pea Grit

At Frocester Hill and Nailsworth the sands above the Lias are well seen, and these the Doctor considered to be the equivalents of the Midford Sands, and of the similar sands in Dorsetshire, which in that county underlie the Zone of A. Humphreaianus, the Zone of A. Murchisoniee being there wanting. The cause of oolitic structure had never been satisfactorily explained, but Dr. Wright ventured to think that the minute nuclei which form tbe centres of the spherical grains were particles of coral which formed the fine coral sand that in the Oolitic sea doubtless lay on the coral reefs, three of which can be made out in the Inferior Oolite. The concentric calcareous layers would tben be formed by the derivation of carbonate of lime from the water, and the spheri­ cal form would be produced by tbe rolling on the ancient beach. The upper portion of the hill is very steep, and tested the climbing powers of the Members to the utmost as the successive beds were searched for and examined. The" Pea Grit" was well seen resting on the Upper Lias, the highest point of which was found. After traversing the face of the escarpment for a long distance, and examining the lithological character of the various beds, the party descended the hill to the residence of Major Barnard, F.L.S., where luncheon was hospitably provided by thatgentleman. Rested and refreshed, the Geologists again ascended the face of the hill, and at length reached the Gryphite Grit and the Upper Trigonia Grit at the summit, after much labour. .Fossils were abundant, EXCURSION TO THE CHELTENHAM DISTRICT. 169 and testified the correctness of the names which had been given to these beds. The work of collecting was interrupted by a violent rain storm, which was bravely endured on the shelterless hill top. Leaving the edge of the escarpment, the Members made their way across the elevated plateau, the water parting between the Severn and the Thames hydrographical areas. Soon the land began to decline towards the east, and the head of the great Thames Basin was found to be a beautiful elongated and narrow dell covered with velvety turf, studded with small graceful trees, and gradually widening until the Cheltenham and high road is struck. Near this point, in a little hollow by the roadside, the far-famed " Seven Springs," one of the sources of the Thames, were found. The pool formed by water issuing from the springs, which were with difficulty counted as seven, is very small, and the stream running from it-the infant Thames-is a diminutive rivulet that a boy may step across. No sooner is the river born, however, than it begins to work, the stream being utilised for a mill at a few yards from its source. The British name Coryn (now Churn) anciently given to the stream signifies the top or summit, and so was ap­ plicable to the head waters of the Thames. The Members having rested for some time, and listened to Mr. Parker's remarks on the etymology of the word" churn," took their departure from the in­ teresting spot, and regaining their carriages, were swiftly conveyed to Oheltenham.

MAY HILL. The Members having surveyed the Severn Valley from Church­ down Hill, and made themselves acquainted with the geology of the great Cotteswold escarpment on its eastern side, devoted Wednesday to the Palreozoic rocks forming the western boundary of the vale. The clump of firs. crowning May Hill had formed a striking object in the view from Churchdown and from Leck­ hampton Hills on the two preceding days, and on this the third day became the destination of the party. Jonrneying by way of Gloucester City, the Geologists crossed the Severn, with the wide alluvial flats on either side, and after a short, run entered the valley between the Forest of Dean and May Hill, and alighted at Longhope Station. An exposure of rock in an old quarry close to the railway station showed highly inclined Upper Ludlow strata, which here rise from beneath the Old Red K 170 EXCURSION TO THE CHELTENHAl{ DISTRICT.

Sandstone forming the valley to the south, and extending to the Carboniferous rocks of the Forest of Dean. The little brachiopod, so characteristic of the Upper Ludlow, the Chonates lata, is most abundant, and good specimens were easily obtained. On higher ground another old quarry gave an exposure of Wenlock Lime­ stone yielding Strophom ena depressa, Fauositee Gothlandicus, and Catenepora catenulatus, A spur of May Hill was then crossed, and after a slight descent the great symmetrical dome-shaped mass called May Hill was ascended. There are few spots of English ground possessing greater interest to the geologist than the summit of the hill which gave name to an important member of the Silurian System, and which overlooks land formed of every formation from the Cambrian to the Oolites. To quote from "The Record of the Rocks," the charming work of the Rev. Mr. Symonds, "Nowhere in this part of England is there a nobler view I To the north rise the ancient Malverns, the Silurian rocks of Ledbury and W 001­ hope are clothed with wood, and to the north-westward peep out in the distance the Welsh mountains of Old Red Sandstone, with here and there an outlier of Carboniferous rocks telling of the history of denudation between points so distant as the Pen Cerrig Calch, near Crickhowell, and the Clee Hills in Shropshire. Westward is the Forest of Dean, with its Old Red base, and all the Carboniferous Series on its summits; and eastward is the Severn, wandering by the old Norman cities of Worcester, Tewkes­ bury, and Gloucester, among the battle fields of centuries, by ancient cathedrals, abbeys, and churches, until it expands into its fine estuary; and far away to the south we see its glistening waters bordered by the Cotteswold, the Mendip, and the Quantock Hills." The May Hill Sandstone or Upper Llandovery forms the upper portion of the hm, while Wenlock and Ludlow strata are seen around the base, the whole being probably the result of the same great upthrowof Silurian rocks, which formed the Valley of Woolhope, visited by the Association, July, 1873, May Hill being on the axis of the W oolhope valley, and exhibiting rocks of the same age. The Upper Llandovery rock is well exposed on the hill, and consists of beds of sandstone of various degrees of coarseness, in which the little coral the Petraia presents itself abundantly. On the summit Mr. Lobley described the geology of May Hill, and pointed out the many points . of geological' interest within view. The party lingered on the summit reluctant to leave, then de- EXCURSION TO THE CHELTENHAM DISTRICT. 171 scended, and after a rapid walk reached the railway, and returned to Cheltenham.

GARDEN CLIFF, On the fourth day the party, under the guidance of Mr. W. C. Lucy, F.G.S., visited the fine Rheetic and Lower Lias sections of Garden and Frethern Cliffs on the banks of the Severn, near Newnbam. The train was taken to Grange Court, whence a pleasant walk through fieldsand orchards brought the Geologists to Westbury-on-Severn, and a little further to Garden Cliff. It being low water in the Severn a good general view of the cliff was obtained from a point well in front, and here Mr. Lucy described the section, the details of which he gave as follows:-

LIAs.-Lower Lias A. planorbis, OstriaLiassica. ft. in. r Bed with Modiola minima .•, ·0 3 Bed with Monotis decuseato. 1 6 Bed with Modiola minima 0 5 Bed with Fish remains 3 6 IBed . 3 0 ESTHERIA ZONE . 1 0 Bed...... o 6 Bed with Pecten Valoniensis, Oardium Rhll1ticum, Axinus cloacinus, Anatina. S1l/lsSi, Limaprecursor, Myacites musculoides. Pleuroph01"US angulatus, Modiolaminima ... 7 0 ~ Upper Pecten Bed-Plesiosaurus ~ Bed ...... 2 0 101 Lower Pecten Bed. 00 AVlCULA CONTORTA SHALES 2 6 o CARDIUM RHlETICUM SHALES...... 7 0 E:: I BONE BED Acrodus minimus, Gyrolepis Alberti 0 1 ~ Bed ...... 0 6 ..... I BONE BED Nemacanthus, Saurichths apiclis, Pul- Lastra arenicola . 0 1 Bed .., ...... 1 6 PULLASTRA BED-Oardium Rhreticum, Modiola minima, Avicula coniorta; Pullastro: arenicolo, .. 1 0 Bed...... 1 10 Bed Gyrolepis Alberti, Sargodon Tomicus, Pullasiro. arenicola, Saurichthys apicalis, Avicala coniorio,... 0 5 Bed...... 1 3 Bed, Coprolites, Teeth, Scale. 14 0 Red Line, Bed. 3 3 KEUPER-Alternating Beds ot Red, Grey, and White Marls. The dip of tLe beds allows of each being examined with ease as the observer proceeds along the base of the cliff to the south-east, geologically higher and higher beds forming the lower portion of the cliff. This was taken full advantage of, and under Mr Lucy's excellent guidance a careful inspection of the various beds was made, and characteristic fossils, which in some of the zones are 172 EXCURSION TO THE CHELTENHAM DISTRICT. plentiful, were collected. Much enthusiasm was displayed, not­ withstanding a heavy downpour, by Members in searching for and discovering the fossil zones, several of which are very thin, and require careful search and an experienced eye for their detection. Returning to the north-west end of the cliff the somewhat tired Geologists sat down to an al fresco luncheon, and awaited the boats, which had been ordered to convey them to Frethem. At length with the rising tide the boats appeared in sight, and all embarked, but half of the party merely used the boats for crossing the river, and landed on the opposite bank, whence they made their way on foot to Frethem Cliff, where they were joined by the boat party, but time only admitted of a hurried inspection of this fine Lower Lias section, as Severn bank was traversed en route to the Berkeley and Gloucester Ship Canal, by which the now quite tired Geologists returned on board a quickly sailing steamer to Gloucester. Notwithstanding" the fatigues of the day a visit was paid to the Gloucester Museum, under the guidance of Mr. Baldwin, who has contributed to its geological stores, and many illustrations of the local geology here attracted the attention of the visitors. After dining together at Gloucester the train was taken to Chel­ tenham.

TEWKESBURY, APPERLEY, WAINLODE CLIFF. The fourth day having been given up to the banks of the Severn below Gloucester, the fifth was occupied by visits to Tewkesbury, Apperley, and Wainlode Cliff on the river above that city. Leav­ ing Cheltenham early, the party proceeded by carriage along the Tewkesbury Road. At Coombe Hill a good section of the Rhretic or A.viculaContorta Series was examined, and Dr. Wright explained his reasons for preferring the latter name, originally given by him to these beds which are so persistently characterised by the Avicnla contorta, both in this country and abroad. On arriving at Tewkes­ bury, the Members were met by the Rev. W. S. Symonds, the Director for this day, and Sir William Guise, Bart., the President of the Cotteswold Club. Before leaving the town, Tewkesbury A.bbey was visited at the invitation of the Vicar, who read an interesting paper on the history and archeeology of the grand old pile, in which many of those slain in the sanguinary and decisive battle of Tewkes­ bury, including the Prince of Wales and the , E XCUR SION TO THE CHEf,TEKHAM DISTRICT. 173 lie buried. ?tIr. James Parker followed with a learned dis­ course on the foundation of the chn rch by Dodo and Odo, th e Saxon Dukes of Mercia, in th e eighth century. The party on leaving the Abbey assembled before th e great west entrance, when a photograph of th e group was taken for publication, as a memo­ rial of the visit. Mr. Symonds then led th e way across the " Bloody Meadow," the scene of the slaughter of 4000 Englishmen, to Tewkesbury Park, th e site of the great battle, formed, for the most part, of the higher level g ravels of the Severn Valley. On the high ground stands the mansion of Tewkesbury P ark, and here, the focus of the contest, Mr. Symonds gave an eloquent account of the Battl e of Tewkesbury, in which he depicted most vividly the encounters that had occurred on this spot in 1371. The old estu ary gravels, containing remains of existing Mammalia, slope down to the alluvial river flats, where no less than 150 feet thick­ ness of silt has been found without any such remains as tho se yielded by the gravels. A pleasant walk th rough the river-side meadows, bronght in sight the ancient church of Deerhnrst, where Mr. J ames Parker again gave proof of his archeeologicnl lore by a most interesting, lIS well as most learn ed lecture on thi s little country church, re­ specting the origin of which there is better documentary evidence than for that of any other of Saxon age. Mr. P arker exhibit'ed a rubbing of the dedication stone, of the date 1056, which states Odda to have bern the founder. But th e tomb of Hugh Strickland, the predecessor of Phillips at Oxford, and the memorial window erected to his memory, rendered Deerhurst church specially inter­ est ing to its geological visitors, who'thu s reminded of his distin­ guished th ough brief career, left Deerhurst for Apperley, Strick­ land's old home. Then crossing the park th e river was again reached, and a short walk by its verdant banks terminated at W ainlode Cliff, another fine section of the Rbretic Series, first examined by Strickland. Dr. W right and Mr. Symonds des­ cribed the section, in which th e Rhsetic Black- shales are very finely displayed. The shales were examined, but few organisms were found. Retu rning to Apperley the Members were received at Apperley Court by Miss Strickland, the sister of th e distinguished geo­ logist, who had invited ~h e party to dinner. Apperley Court commands a view over one of th e richest portions of the Vale 174 EXCURSION TO THE CHELTENHAM DISTRICT.

of Severn, and stands in a park of great beauty. After dinner Mr. 8ymonds and Dr. Wright spoke of the teachings of what had been seen during the day, and the associations of the house in which so many geologists were then assembled. Sir William Guise, Mr. Parker, Mr. John Jones, and Mr. Lobley also addressed the assembly, and Miss Strickland expressed the great gratification which this visit of the Members of the Geolo­ gists' Association afforded her, and invited her guests to inspect the collection of mammalian remains obtained from the Severn Valley gravels by her brother. This interesting visit terminated by very cordial thanks being given to the hospitable owner of Apperley Court, when her guests took their departure, and after a rapid drive returned to their hotel at Cheltenham. STROUD, On tbe succeeding day, the last day of the Excursion, only a small number of Members returned to London, visiting en route Stroud and its neighbouring hills of Oolite. Those who did so, however, saw to advantage the deep valleys cut through the Great and Inferior Oolites which characterise this part of . Rodborough Hill of Inferior Oolite, so famous for its abundant fossils, and the Great Oolite quarries on Minchinhampton Common were examined, and yielded a large number of fossils to the vigor­ ously-used hammers of the party. The train was then taken for London, and the week's proceedings terminated.

ORDINARY MEETING.

NOVEMBER 6TH, 1874. HENRY WOODWARD, Esq., F.R.S., F.G.S., &c., President, in the Chair. The following Donations were announced :-

"Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society," Vol. XXX., Part 3; from that Society. "Abstracts of Proceedings of the Geological Society;" from that Society. "Smithsonian Report for 1872;" from the Smithsonian In­ stitution. II Transactions of the Edinburgh Geological Society," Vol. ii., Part 3; from that Society.