The Edinburgh Geologist

Magazine of the Edinburgh Geological Society Issue No 52 Autumn 2012

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Cover Illustration The recently completed James Hutton Building at the British Geological Survey’s Keyworth (Nottingham) HQ features this striking architectural representation of his famous unconformity at Siccar Point, Berwickshire. In the real thing, gently dipping beds of Upper Devonian ‘Old Red Sandstone’ from the Stratheden Group overlie steeply dipping beds of Lower Silurian ‘greywacke’ from the Ettrick Group. In the reconstruction, Middle Devonian red sandstone from Balaldie Quarry, Fearn, Easter Ross (Raddery Sandstone Formation, Black Isle Sandstone Group) ‘overlies’ Lower Silurian ‘greywacke’ from Morrinton Quarry, Dumfriessshire (Gala Group). BGS image number P785457.

BGS images are reproduced by permission of the British Geological Survey ©NERC. Published September 2012 by The Edinburgh Geological Society (Charity registered in Scotland number SC008011) www.edinburghgeolsoc.org Editors Phil Stone Bob McIntosh [email protected] [email protected] British Geological Survey Murchison House West Mains Road Edinburgh EH9 3LA ISSN 0265-7244 Price £2 net

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Hutton reconstructed and illustrated, fossils lost and found, dying for science, and a musical survivor

An editorial ramble by Phil Stone

With a reconstruction of Hutton’s in the American Museum of Natural Unconformity at Siccar Point on History, New York. In Scotland, the front cover, it seems only fair to ‘Hutton’s Unconformity’ at Siccar include a picture of the real thing in Point has attained iconic status: see this issue of The Edinburgh Geologist. for example one of the cover designs Now much-celebrated, the site proved in our ‘Book Reviews’ section, or the seminal in Hutton’s appreciation of multi-coloured version in corporate geological ‘deep time’ and his boat livery forming the logo of the recently trip there in 1788 with John Playfair established James Hutton Institute. and Sir James Hall has become the Despite such celebrity, it is still worth stuff of geological legend. recalling Playfair’s thoughts from that first visit: Hutton actually has three eponymous unconfomities (the other ones are on “We felt ourselves necessarily carried Arran and near Jedburgh) and those at back to the time when the schistus on Siccar Point and Jedburgh have been which we stood was yet at the bottom proposed as ‘Global Geosites’ on the of the sea, and when the sandstone basis of their historical importance, before us was only beginning to be whilst a full-sized casting of part of the deposited … An epocha still more Siccar Point unconformity is housed remote presented itself, when even

Hutton’s Unconformity at Siccar Point. This photograph by Dave Millward, BGS image number P774192.

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the most ancient of these rocks instead recorded an unconformity in the of standing upright in vertical beds, lay Isle of Man where Carboniferous in horizontal planes at the bottom of limestone overlay the ‘schistus’, the sea … The mind seemed to grow which in that instance was giddy by looking so far into the abyss Ordovician strata of the Manx Group. of time.” There’s even an unexpected link between Clerk of Eldin and Peter Hutton’s influence is acknowledged Dryburgh’s article. The Edinburgh elsewhere in this issue of The exhibition (3 Nov 2012 to 3 Feb Edinburgh Geologist, in the article 2013) should be well worth a visit by Alexis Drahos and Christine and whilst there you can go next Thompson on Pre-Raphaelite art. We door for a look at The Scotsman also have articles by Peter Dryburgh, Steps. You might be familiar with the recalling our Society’s centenary book featuring Clerk’s work, “James celebrations in 1934, and by Emily Hutton’s Theory of the Earth: the Tracey who takes a close look at the Lost Drawings”, edited by Professor sequential use of different building Gordon Craig and published in stone in Callander. 1978 by Scottish Academic Press. In conjunction with the exhibition, “The Come up and see my etchings Etchings of John Clerk of Eldin” by James Hutton will only play a Geoffrey Bertram will be published supporting role in an exhibition by Enterprise Editions. It promises opening later this year, at Edinburgh’s 180 pages with over 100 plates and City Arts Centre, which will illustrations. More information at commemorate the death in 1812 www.clerkofeldin.com. of John Clerk of Eldin, Hutton’s friend, travelling companion and Lost and found illustrator. Clerk was a recognised In the last issue of The Edinburgh artist in his own right and his etchings Geologist I was bewailing the loss range across historical buildings, to science of various geological Scottish landscapes and of course specimens and collections, so this geological themes. Unfortunately time, to redress the balance, let’s he did not illustrate the Siccar Point celebrate the reappearance of unconformity, but his representation a few things. The discovery that of the Jedburgh unconformity is well got most Media attention was known (see, for example, the front made in the British Geological cover of Scottish Journal of Geology, Survey’s headquarters in Keyworth, volume 33 for 1997) and he also Nottingham. There, a long-overlooked

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and much-moved cabinet proved to contain hundreds of palaeobotanical thin-sections assembled by Joseph Hooker, contemporary and great friend of Charles Darwin, who had been briefly employed by the Survey in 1846. Some of the thin-sections had been made from specimens collected by Darwin during his voyage around the World on HMS Beagle, but One of Joseph Hooker’s thin sections some were even older and originated of the Craigleith tree. BGS image in — Edinburgh. In 1826 the fossilised number P775750. remains of huge Carboniferous trees were discovered in Craigleith Quarry, and to study them the pioneer of thin- had been discovered late in 1912 by section microscopy, William Nicol, W Mackie and its importance was experimented with new techniques. soon appreciated. All of the original From here the story seems to have material recovered was loose surface descended into professional rivalry debris, and in the absence of any and skulduggery — for a full and exposure a committee was formed entertaining account see Howard under the auspices of the British Falcon-Lang’s article in Geology Today, Association for the Advancement 2012, Vol. 28(1), 26–30 . of Science, chaired by John Horne, “to excavate Critical Sections”. The Closer to home, in the British committee dispatched David Tait, Geological Survey’s Edinburgh base, whose excavations found fossiliferous Murchison House, a hessian sack chert in three of the eleven trenches full of rocks was finally opened after dug. These were described in the lurking in corners for 99 years, though committee’s report (Reports on the only for the last 35 in MH. It proved to State of Science 1916; cf. Mackie, contain 85 specimens of the famous 1913, Transactions of the Edinburgh Rhynie Chert that had been excavated Geological Society, Vol. 10, 205–236), from a trench dug in October 1913 but it would appear that a sackful of under the supervision of David Tait rock from Trench 2 was overlooked. (later to be the Society’s first Clough The Rhynie locality is now recognised medallist in 1935–36). In another as being of international scientific example of recherché palaeobotany importance, and the complete this Devonian plant-bearing chert absence of natural exposure makes

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the ‘recovered’, but well-documented Stan Wood of a remarkable Early material most welcome. Carboniferous fossil assemblage attracted quite a lot of Media interest Of course, the rediscovery of for the light it promised to shed on collections such as Hooker’s thin- an elusive phase in the evolution sections and Tait’s sackful of Rhynie of early reptiles from amphibians; Chert is always portrayed as a a palaeontological hiatus at about great coup. Would it be churlish to 360 to 345 Ma hitherto known as point out the years of underfunded ‘Romer’s Gap’ after the American curation that allowed the specimens vertebrate palaeontologist Alfred to be ‘lost’ in the first place? Sherwood Romer. The initial fossil haul, from the River Whitadder near Foulden, included well over a hundred tetrapod bones and teeth, abundant fish remains, various invertebrates including shrimps, scorpions and eurypterids, and a range of plants. A major research effort is now planned involving National Museums Scotland, Cambridge University and the British Geological Survey. As the research progresses we hope to bring you more on this in future issues of EG.

To die for We may be just a little early to One of David Tait’s labelled celebrate the centenary of the specimens from Trench 2 at Rhynie. discovery of the Rhynie Chert plant BGS image number P772163. fossils, but we are just a little late in commemorating another centenary with a palaeobotanical association, And it’s not just the reappearance but this is rather a sad one. On of old material that should be about 22 March 1912, Scott, Wilson celebrated, with one recent and and Bowers died on their return spectacular find in the Scottish journey from the South Pole to Borders well worthy of mention. their expedition’s base on the Ross The discovery by EGS member Sea coast of Antarctica; they were

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predeceased on their ill-fated trek attempt on the Pole was just a part, by Evans and Oates. Scott and his and it was the scientific results that companions, leading the 1910–1912 would ultimately count for most. The British Antarctic Expedition (more Glossopteris specimens were collected popularly known as the Terra Nova from Mount Buckley when Scott’s Expedition after the expedition’s ship), party, already debilitated and low on had reached the Pole on January 18th, supplies, took a deliberate detour about a month after Amundsen’s from their route back from the Pole Norwegian expedition had achieved to make geological observations. In it. Some months later a search party contrast, Amundsen regarded any found a collection of geological scientific observation, no matter specimens with the bodies of Scott, how trivial, as a waste of time and Wilson and Bowers, 15.88 kg of rock effort that distracted from his only deemed to precious to be abandoned. objective of getting to the South Amongst those specimens were pieces Pole first. But even Amundsen felt of Permian mudstone containing leaf it was necessary to come back with impressions that proved to be from something, so grabbed about twenty a tree of Glossopteris type. At the rock fragments (vein quartz, schist time this was scientific dynamite. Not and granite) from the last scree slope only did it establish that Antarctica passed before arriving safely back at had once enjoyed a temperate his expedition’s base. It is reported climate, but it also firmly linked the that his companions objected even Permian succession there into the to this token effort, claiming that floral province already established there were already plenty of stones in the other southern continents. in Norway. Those twenty specimens The recognition of the Gondawana represented the entire contribution supercontinent and its fragmentation of Amundsen’s expedition to by continental drift would inevitably terrestrial Antarctic science. The follow. vast database and extensive collections amassed by the Terra It has become fashionable in Nova expedition, in biology, geology, dilettante circles to sneer at Scott glaciology, meteorology and accurate and his companions, dragging their topographical survey, effectively rocks to the bitter end, but that is founded modern polar science. to completely misunderstand their Three geologists were members of motivation. The Terra Nova expedition the Terra Nova expedition — Frank had been conceived as an essentially Debenham, Raymond Priestly and scientific endeavour of which the Griffith Taylor — and all carried out

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exploration and research independent recalled that some of the same verses of the Pole attempt and under had been reproduced in Donald equally gruelling circumstances; Prothero’s excellent 2007 book their contributions have been rather Evolution — What the Fossils Say and overshadowed and deserve much Why it Matters. Therein, on page 206, greater recognition. But at least Philip Pope is credited as the author, the hard-won specimens were not but no date is given. Anyway, at the subsequently ‘lost’. Most of the Terra risk of infringing someone’s copyright, Nova rocks and fossils are safe and here are the first verse and the chorus: sound in The Natural History Museum, London, though at least some of A fishlike thing appeared among the Priestley’s specimens ended up in annelids one day Glasgow, in the Hunterian Museum. It hadn’t any parapods or setae to display The amphioxus song It hadn’t any eyes or jaws or ventral Finally: in the last EG, something nervous chord more was promised as follow-up But it had a lot of gillslits and it had to Survivors, Richard Fortey’s BBC a notochord television programme on evolution and extinction. Plenty of botanical Chorus survivors featured in the series but I think the most appropriate theme It’s a long way from amphioxus for EG arose when I was talking with It’s a long way to us. Tony Irving about one episode in It’s a long way from amphioxus which Fortey dug up a lancelet. Tony To the meanest human cuss. and I recalled that when we were So goodbye to fins and gillslits learning about theses things it was Hello lungs and hair, called amphioxus (as Fortey agrees It’s a long, long way from amphioxus in his ‘book of the series’). Tony But we all came from there. then dredged from the depths of the internet a celebratory song ‘It’s You can see the rest at: http:// a Long Way From Amphioxus’ to be sniff.numachi.com/pages/ sung to the well-known tune ‘It’s a tiAMPHIOXU;ttTIPRARY.html Long Way To Tipperary’. The Internet source suggested that the words Maybe we should schedule had been composed in the 1920s community singing at the next by an unknown author. But then I Fellows’ Night.

Edinburgh geologists_issue52.indd 6 14/08/2012 11:48:17 geology in the pre-raphaelite landscape Geology in the Pre-Raphaelite landscape: William Dyce’s Pegwell Bay

By Alexis Drahos and Christine Thompson

In the Pre-Raphaelite landscape women, widely discouraged from paintings of the nineteenth century, taking up science, took an interest earth science is represented in a in fossil collecting and in observing variety of ways1. Cliffs, mountain stars with a telescope. Painters kept ranges and erosional features themselves abreast of the latest appeared with growing frequency relevant discoveries in earth science. in the works of artists of the time. As a result landscape painting of the Under pressure from photography, time demonstrated the tension and some painters tried to compete with debate between science and religion it by creating portraits of rocks and over the origin of the Earth, its mineralogical specimens. During evolution, the significance of fossils, the Victorian era, the figurative and so on. The publication of the arts were imbued with geological epochal On the Origin of Species, by science which was experiencing Charles Darwin in 1859, represented great developments in the same a turning point for these issues. way that, for example, astronomy was. Painters and art critics began The aim of this article is to bring to to socialize with scientists generally the fore the influence of geology in and, as interest in the deep past of Pre-Raphaelite landscape painting our planet grew, with geologists in through one work: Pegwell Bay particular. The number of popular 1858 (Fig.1) by William Dyce scientific publications increased. (1806–1864), a Scottish painter At all levels of society, people felt particularly interested in science. But concerned about science. Even first we should explain who the Pre- Raphaelites were and what artistic 1 For a general discussion on Pre-Raphaelite principles they followed. landscape painting, see: Allen Staley : The Pre-Raphaelite landscape, Yale University Press, 2001. More specifically, to study the The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood relationship between art and science in was founded in 1848 by John Pre-Raphaelite painting, see the exhibition catalogue: Pre-Raphaelite Vision : truth to Everett Millais, along with William nature, Tate Gallery, 2004 Holman Hunt and Dante Gabriel

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Figure 1 Pegwell Bay, Kent — a Recollection of October 5th 1858. William Dyce. Painted ?1858–1860. Photo ©Tate, London 2012.

Rossetti. They were young painters his many interests was the study of in revolt against the Academicism in geology. His liking for the science which they had been trained in the dated back to his boyhood when 1840s. Rejecting post-Renaissance he began compiling a mineralogical art in the Raphael tradition, they dictionary and toyed with the idea looked instead to medieval art of one day becoming President of for inspiration. They preferred to the Geological Society of London. concentrate on the naturalistic detail At Oxford he studied geology of a subject within its precise setting, with William Buckland who was a rather than idealising nature within Catastrophist: someone who believed an artificial design. that the face of the Earth had been repeatedly transformed by successive The Brotherhood’s avant-garde cataclysms, such as Noah’s Flood. movement was strongly championed In 1840 Ruskin became a Fellow of by John Ruskin (1819–1900), the the Geological Society of London eminent critic and patron of the arts. and went on to deliver and publish He was no mean draughtsman and numerous papers on geological watercolourist himself, and a prolific subjects. writer, always at pains to emphasise the connections he saw between Later, Ruskin became an advocate nature, art and society. Amongst of Uniformitarianism. This was a

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concept recently popularised by faded, especially when it came Charles Lyell (1797–1875), in his to geology. This fusion of art with three-volume Principles of Geology, geoscience is displayed in William published 1830–33. As is well- Dyce’s highly regarded and extremely known, it drew on the work of fellow detailed painting, Pegwell Bay. Scot, James Hutton (1726–1797), the ‘Father of Modern Geology’, William Dyce (1806–1864) was a who first realised that the Earth was distinguished Scottish artist, born in immensely old and shaped by the Aberdeen, and working in Rome, very same processes, such as erosion, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and London. that we can observe today. Hutton Perhaps influenced by his father, who and Lyell rejected the older belief of was a physician and academic, Dyce Catastrophism. In their view, natural studied medicine (and theology) before phenomena, such as wind, rain, turning to painting. Further evidence earthquakes and volcanoes, operated of an interest in science is the fact that, in the present just as they had done while developing a career as a painter, in the past and would in the future. he wrote a prize-winning essay on Consequently, under the influence electro-magnetism. He was therefore of these scientists, Ruskin inherited a predisposed to an appreciation of the more dynamic vision of nature. Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood’s interest in, and respect for, science. John Ruskin’s five-volumeModern Painters (published 1843–1860) In Pegwell Bay, Kent — a Recollection was hugely influential. In particular, of October 5th 1858, to give his the second volume (1846) played a painting its full title, William Dyce formative role in the Pre-Raphaelite recalls a family holiday at this beach movement. In effect he acted as resort on the east coast of Kent. From a counterbalance to Sir Joshua left to right, one can see his son, his Reynolds, painter and theoretician wife’s sisters and his wife, collecting of the second half of the eighteenth fossils or shells. The respective century, who had weakened influences of Ruskin, geoscience landscape painting, preferring and astronomy on the painting are history painting instead. Henceforth, demonstrated by the naturalistic according to Ruskin, the artist should detail; the cliffs, symbolic of the pay great attention to elements of remote past of the earth; and the nature and science. In Pre-Raphaelite faint presence of the comet Donati in landscape painting, therefore, the the sky, evoking the immensity of the borders between art and science Universe.

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Take a look at the cliffs in the and wave-cut platform. They are background. Clearly visible are flint- bracketed in time by the comet studded beds of the White Chalk overhead, representing the formation Subgroup, which here date from the of the solar system about 4.55 billion Coniadian and Santonian Stages of years ago, and the nineteenth- the Late Cretaceous Epoch, between century fossil-collectors in the 89 and 83.5Ma. Close study of foreground. Dyce seems to be gazing the lithology reveals that the chalk into what James Hutton’s friend, John formed in subtropical seas from thick Playfair, called the ‘abyss of time’. deposits of carbonate ooze, rich in the remains of planktonic algae In conclusion, the nineteenth century (coccoliths) and foraminifera, mixed was a time when geology, especially with shelly debris. through the writings of Charles Lyell, was becoming of interest to people Looking again at the painting, one from many walks of life. In the field can see that the chalk strata are of the history of art, the painting gently inclined and have a system discussed in this article stands of fractures, perhaps the outcome witness to the great impact of Lyell of tectonic movement when the on John Ruskin and hence on Pre- Tethys Ocean further south was Raphaelite landscape painting. At closing. At the cliff-top there is that time, science and art were very an erosional surface overlain by much interconnected, geosciences in Palaeogene sediments, topped in turn particular being an inspiration for the by a red ‘brickearth’. The latter is a Pre-Raphaelite art movement. Pleistocene deposit of loess — very fine-grained, wind-blown sediment Pegwell Bay is, of course, a long way that probably originated as rock flour from Scotland and the artist’s origins. in glaciated areas further north. At In a future issue of The Edinburgh the cliff-base we see caves and a Geologist we hope to look at wave-cut platform. another Pre-Raphaelite painting with geological content, painted much In this one picture we can trace the closer to home. story of Pegwell Bay from deposition of the chalk, through its uplift, Alexis Drahos … [email protected] erosion and mantling with younger Christine Thompson … sediments, to the much more recent [email protected] geomorphological features caused by wave-action — the sea-caves

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Reflections on a geological centenary

By Peter Dryburgh

Some years ago, when Professor Queen Victoria. At that time, the Gordon Craig was going through world of geology was in a state of the collections of the late Sir upheaval. In his history of Edinburgh Frederick Stewart, he came across geology in the nineteenth century, Sir an interesting newspaper cutting Thomas Holland stated: reporting the centenary celebration of the Edinburgh Geological Society “Geological science was then in 1934. He sent this cutting to undergoing a process of rapid me but, through an unfortunate development, almost a revolution. combination of circumstances, it The first of the three volumes of Lyell’s got filed away in the wrong place Principles appeared in 1830 and the and was only rediscovered during final volume in 1833. De La Beche a recent purge of my accumulated issued the first geological maps and papers. The contents of the article commenced the organisation of the and its historical context are of such Geological Survey of England and interest that I thought it worthwhile Wales in 1834. John MacCulloch’s to bring them to the attention of first map of Scotland was ready for readers of The Edinburgh Geologist. publication in the same year.”

Before finding out about the 1934 In his detailed listing of that year’s celebrations, it may be of interest to momentous geological events, readers to know something about Holland included the meeting of what was happening a century Murchison and Sedgwick to adjust before. In 1834 there were many the boundaries of their respective important events, though not all greywacke kingdoms and Murchison’s connected with geology: Thomas proposal of the name Silurian for Telford died, William Whewell first the Upper Series. Perhaps the most published the word ‘scientist’ and the important event of the year was the French Foreign Legion was founded. meeting of the British Association In that year, Andrew Carnegie was in Edinburgh, which was attended one year old, Lord Kelvin was 19 by Buckland, Sedgwick, Murchison, and William IV had only three years Lyell, Horner and Agassiz, and during to live before he was succeeded by which Nicol read his paper on the

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preparation of thin-sections. After in 1832. There seems little doubt that the meeting, Murchison wrote to Sir the British Association Meeting held Philip Egerton: in September 1834 resulted directly in the formation of the Edinburgh “…the meeting was successful in Geological Society by the students of every way… I may say without Alexander Rose’s extramural class. vanity that we geologists were all The minutes of the first meeting, held the fashion, and engrossed by far the on December 8th record that: greatest share of attention” “…after examining the evidence for Although the BA Meeting provided the Arthur’s Seat being of volcanic origin, final impetus for the creation of the also the evidence for its being of Edinburgh Geological Society, the time aqueous origin, concluded that its was certainly ripe or, as Holland puts it: resemblance to the lavas of existing volcanoes — the minerals contained in “…conditions were developing in it being the same, the hardening and Edinburgh before the Association disturbance of the strata at the point came, and indeed the local of junction and neighbourhood show atmosphere was already charged to that it has been forced up in a state of a fairly high potential of frictional great heat — and is of volcanic origin.” electricity by local conflict between the Neptunists and Plutonists.” It should not come as a surprise to learn that Professor Robert Jameson Despite the massive impact of never joined the new Edinburgh Hutton’s work, which had been so Geological Society. magnificently publicised by Playfair, there had been a rather sterile period The celebrations of the centenary in Edinburgh geology during the early of the Society in 1934 were given years of the century, largely due to extensive coverage by The Scotsman. the great influence of Jameson, the One whole column was devoted to a Regius Professor of Natural History, summary of the tributes paid by the who, despite his great abilities, clung world’s geologists, while an additional to his almost obsessive belief in piece covered the centenary dinner Wernerian doctrine long after it had and associated speeches. A small been discarded by most geologists group of members of the Society, as the result of extensive field including Professor E B Bailey, was observations and the experimental photographed at a reception held by work of Sir James Hall, who had died the University (see Figure 1).

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Figure 1 Members of the Edinburgh Geological Society at a reception at Edinburgh University on September 4th 1934.

made a request for Hutton’s work. The attendant brought him two printed volumes together with a rather shabby bundle and stated that he had found ‘this old thing’ on the shelf beside the other two and Tributes to the Society were paid the Professor might just be interested at a meeting held in the Grant in it. It turned out to be the missing Institute at The King’s Buildings manuscript of the third volume under the chairmanship of Sir John and was subsequently printed and Flett, the President of the Society. published. Addresses were given by Sir Thomas Holland and professors from various The praise given by the distinguished countries: F D Adams (Canada), visitors was not confined to the C F Kolderup (Norway), Baron de academic geologists and the Geer (Sweden) and W N Benson renowned work of Peach and Horne (New Zealand). All the speakers in the Western Highlands was emphasised the enormous influence credited with laying the foundations that Edinburgh had had on world for the understanding of the great geology. Caledonian mountain range. Robert Jameson, although associated so Adams related how he had stumbled strongly with the outdated views of across the ‘lost’ third volume of Werner, was given great praise by the Hutton’s Theory of the Earth. He had Swedish speaker because of his many been reading in the library of the valuable suggestions concerning Geological Society of London and glaciation and land depression, ice-

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dammed lakes and other related Maclaren, one of the earliest editors features. of The Scotsman and one of the first members of the Edinburgh Geological Tribute was paid also to the great Society. work of Sir Archibald Geikie on the Scottish Survey and that of James The toast to the Society was Geikie as the leading ‘glacialist’ of the proposed by Professor W W Watts time. of Cambridge, who made special reference to the admirable way in The dinner was attended by about which the Society’s contributors had a hundred people and held in the dealt with the connection between Oak Hall at 70 Princes Street. This chemistry and geology. red sandstone building, designed by Hyppolyte Blanc in the nineteenth In reply, Sir John Flett gave his century, has survived the decades of reminiscences of the Society from post-war municipal destruction and the time when he was a student — 45 stands next to British Home Stores; its years before — and reflected on how ground floor is now a card shop (see often it had been on the verge of Figure 2). It is worth noting that, when Princes Street was first built, number 70 was the home of John Clerk of Eldin, the artist.

Among the famous people attending the dinner was Professor D’Arcy Thompson, who proposed a toast to the City of Edinburgh, making many amusing references to the city’s geology and its literary past. He drew attention to Charles

Figure 2 70 Princes Street in April 2012.

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extinction but had prospered by its “The streets are full of men in black adversities. He made the interesting tunics and brown shirts, gripping with comment that he believed that its one hand the dirks of honour that success was largely due to the success dangle from their belts” of its excursions — the results of their work were not all in the printed page, The terrifying significance of this for some of the best work had been event is apparent to us now but in done in the field. 1934 it seems to have been just one more item of news: the lower The Scotsman article, written in section of the column containing the 1934, can be read today with Nuremberg report is occupied by considerable pride and satisfaction an announcement that all the Boy but it is impossible to ignore the Scout Commissioners of Dundee had item which appears in the matching resigned in protest at the mishandling column on the reverse side of the of their affairs by Scout headquarters page. Most of the column is taken in Edinburgh. up by a report headed ‘GREAT NAZI CONGRESS — Bells of Nuremberg The Edinburgh Geological Society Welcome Hitler’ It is reported that should be celebrating its bicentenary 750 000 people came to the city for 22 years from now. If newspapers still this rally, the first since Hitler had exist by then, I can’t help wondering become Head of State. what they will be reporting.

“Herr Hitler’s speech at the opening Further Reading of the Congress to-night lasted only The Scotsman, September 5th 1934, three minutes. He thanked the page 12. Nurembergers, on behalf of the party as well as himself. Their shining eyes Sir Thomas H Holland (1935) were the most beautiful adornment Trans. Edin. Geol. Soc. vol. XIII, of the town he said, and together Part 2 ‘Geology in Edinburgh at the with their recent high percentage of beginning of the nineteenth century’ ‘Yes’ votes in the recent plebiscite, convinced him that he had been right ‘Princess Street’, Life Association of to choose Nuremberg as the site of Scotland (1938). the Party Congress.”

At the start of the article, the reporter comments that:

Edinburgh geologists_issue52.indd 15 14/08/2012 11:48:20 the evolving use of building stones in the callander conservation area

The evolving use of building stones in the Callander Conservation Area

By Emily A Tracey

The character of stone-built stone type, block size/shape/tooling settlements in Scotland reflects a and coursing used in the main range of geographical, geological and architectural elements (walling and historical factors. In any settlement, dressings) of a building. character evolves over time mainly due to changes in available materials, Block shape, which refers to the architectural fashion, and levels of shape of individual stone blocks, craftsmanship. A recent building stone ranges from ‘rubble’ (variable shape survey of the Callander Conservation and size, not squared), through Area in Loch Lommond and The ‘squared rubble’ (variable shape and Trossachs National Park, undertaken size, roughly squared) to ‘ashlar’ by Building Stones geoscientists at the (regular shape and size, squared and British Geological Survey, uncovered rectilinear). Tooling, which refers to how the evolution of building stone how the block was finished, ranges use defined the local character. from non-tooled (i.e. ‘rough natural’) to highly skilled finishes (e.g. smooth, In Callander, as in many other droved or stugged1). Coursing settlements, the earliest buildings denotes how the building stone is are constructed from locally sourced laid to form a wall. This is dependent stone and therefore closely reflect to a large degree on block shape; aspects of the local geology. Over for example, rubble is typically time, different building stone types left ‘uncoursed’, squared rubble is are introduced as knowledge of stone typically ‘irregularly coursed’, and quality improves and alternative ashlar is always ‘coursed’ (laid on a building stones become more readily regular horizontal bed). available (i.e. with the expansion of the railway). This evolution of 1 Stugged: Random crude depressions building stones is often gradual obtained by removing larger irregularities by and can be separated into unique means of a punch to achieve a roughly flat surface. Droved: Fine parallel grooves either masonry styles. ‘Masonry style’ vertical, diagonal or horizontal produced by a refers to the combination of building chisel, giving an overall flat face.

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Four masonry styles (i.e. particular parts of the UK), and the impact of combinations of stone type, block the First World War (associated with size/shape/tooling and coursing used a rapid decline in the number of in the main architectural elements operational building stone quarries in of a building) define the Callander the UK, and a shift to ‘modern’, man- Conservation Area (CCA), each made building materials). reflecting the available building materials, architectural tastes and The town is centred on Main Street, the masonry skills of the time. The principal (oldest) part of which is around main changes in masonry style can 0.75 kilometres long. Near its central be linked to events affecting the point the street opens out on both sides availability of materials, in particular into Ancaster Square, but is otherwise the opening of quarries in the local lined by buildings fronting directly onto area (providing a reliable but restricted it. A regular, grid-like street pattern is source of local building stone), the developed in the area immediately arrival of the railway (bringing a variety around Main Street, beyond which are of stone and slate types from other areas of grand Victorian villas (notably

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Figure 2 Local building stones of Callander sourced mainly from three long- disused quarries located to the north of Callander (conglomerate) and in Lenny Feus (flagstone). Top left: typical early mixed rubble wall found in conservation area; top right: conglomerate building stone; bottom left: typical brown-grey flagstone, often face-bedded and mainly used as dressings; bottom right: typical purple-red flagstone, mainly used as building stone in the villas of Lenny Feus.

Leny Feus) and modern housing. buildings — conglomerate (Callander The Callander Conservation Area is puddingstone), and two types of broadly centred on Main Street and flagstone — were sourced locally, encompasses several hundred stone from three long-disused quarries buildings (Figure 1). in the wooded slopes north of the town centre (Figure 2). Each quarry Three of the most important exploited a separate division of the stone types used in Callander Old Red Sandstone Supergroup

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Figure 3 Map of simplified bedrock geology in the Callander district. Callander straddles the outcrop of several major mapped ‘Old Red Sandstone’ divisions of conglomerate, sandstone and flagstone on the northwest limb of the Strathmore Syncline. © NERC 2011. All rights reserved.

exposed adjacent to the Highland Bridgend, on the south side of River Boundary Fault (Figure 3). Teith (Figure 1). This area retains its historical feu patterns and remnants Historically, Callander occupied a of 17th century building foundations. strategically significant transit point for trade between the Highlands By the end of the 18th century, the and Lowlands in Scotland. Town population of Callander exceeded expansion was thus greatly influenced 1000 for the first time. Development by the trade and manufacture of was focused in Ancaster Square and agricultural goods from as early along Main Street. A daily coach as the 17th century. Early village to Stirling carrying passengers and development was focused around delivering post began in 1835 and the

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first railway station in Callander was opened in 1858. The railway had a significant impact on the development of Callander, bringing people, trade, and new building materials to the town. Many important commercial, religious and civic buildings, including hotels, banks, churches and schools, were built during the latter half of the 19th century, as were the impressive residential villas of Leny Feus. Villa Figure 4 Example of Masonry Style developments soon subsided along with 1. 18th century mixed stone rubble a general use of stone in construction constructions of Ancaster Square with the passing of Victorian times, North (rear feu plots). The early con- the significant consequences of two structions contain very large spans of World Wars, and the depression of stone for dressings, some of which the 1920s, not just in Callander, but still retain extraction tooling marks. across the United Kingdom.

Masonry styles basic intrusive igneous rocks (whin), Four masonry styles are recognised in metavolcanic rocks (greenstone) Callander, each characterised mainly metasandstone, schist and gneiss. by a particular combination of stone types used in walling and dressings. The buildings are located in the Each is described below with a oldest parts of the town, notably in selection of typical examples. Bridgend and Ancaster Square. They are generally very simple constructions Masonry Style 1 of mixed rubble walling and dressings Buildings of the earliest masonry formed of variably shaped blocks, style (Masonry Style 1; Figure 4) are with relatively small fenestration and long, low structures with walling little architectural detailing. Dressings and dressings composed of mixed are often large spans of stone, some stone rubble sourced from fields of which retain the original extraction and river beds. The rubble walling tooling marks. Large boulder footings comprises cobbles and boulders of were characteristically used along local conglomerate (puddingstone) the base course of the buildings. This and siltstone (flagstone, mostly of feature, which is common in early the red type), dolerite and other buildings, was designed to provide

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protection against rising damp and to provide a strong foundation. Large blocks of stone were often used in combination with small flaggy pieces of stone. For this reason, uncoursed or irregularly coursed rubble with rough natural finishes is characteristic of this masonry style.

Masonry Style 2 This masonry style is characterised Figure 5 Example of Masonry Style by the first use of local grey-brown 2. Late 18th century construction on flagstone dressings in combination Main Street built of mixed stone rub- with mixed rubble walling, and ble and conglomerate walling with by the appearance and eventual grey-brown flagstone dressings. dominance of walling consisting entirely of conglomerate. It is a feature of late 18th to mid- 19th Callander Conservation Area, most century buildings (Figure 5). commonly in Ancaster Square and These changes may partly reflect along Main Street. The buildings a reduction of the mixed stone were constructed as part of a major resource, and partly the need for development undertaken by the reliable, sustainable local stone Commissioners for Forfeited Estates, resources as town development who administered the lands forfeited became more organised. Local by landlords who had supported the quarries would have opened to 1745 Jacobite rebellion. provide the building stone needed for new construction. The buildings are generally very simple constructions, similar architecturally The markedly heterogeneous texture to those of Masonry Style 1. They of the conglomerate makes it very are attached builds with gable end difficult to work, and in the earliest chimneys and widely spaced windows examples conglomerate walling flanking a central door; however, consists of uncoursed random rubble unlike Masonry Style 1, most of the with a rough natural finish. The local buildings have two storeys (though grey-brown flagstone dressings were in some cases the second storey is a commonly stugged or droved. This later addition). The walling is typically masonry style occurs throughout the irregularly coursed, random rubble

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Figure 6 Examples of Masonry Style 3. St. Kessog’s (1868) and Robertson House (mid 19th century) built of locally sourced walling stone (conglomerate and flagstone) with imported sandstone dressings. This masonry style is the most commonly used throughout the CCA.

conglomerate with a rough natural droved, high quality ashlar blocks. finish. Commonly, the rubble walling Compared to the locally sourced is ‘lined out’ to imitate ashlar masonry. flagstone, the imported sandstone The dressings are of local grey-brown would have been attractive flagstone, commonly stugged. because it was available in larger blocks (making it more suitable for Masonry Style 3 dressings), and was easy to carve. This masonry style is characterised by walling of local Callander stone Villas were constructed by the (conglomerate and flagstone) wealthy for summer homes and, and dressings of imported in some cases, as permanent Scottish sandstone (Figure 6). The residences away from the city. A appearance of imported sandstone new development of villas expanded dressings coincides with the rapidly at Leny Feus. For these opening of the Dunblane, Doune buildings, the typical masonry and Callander Railway in 1858, style is purplish-red flagstone which stimulated a rapid expansion walling and imported Scottish of the town and a rise in tourism. sandstone dressings. The use of the Large, regular-sized blocks of buff purplish-red flagstone walling is a sandstone and red sandstone began characteristic feature of the Leny to replace the dressings of locally Feus area, reflecting the fact that sourced grey-brown flagstone. The the development is adjacent to the sandstone dressings were commonly Leny Feus Flagstone Quarry; it is the

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Figure 7 Examples of Masonry Style 4. The Old Bank on Main Street (C(s) listed, 1883) and building on Bridge Street (C(s) listed, late 18th century); both built of imported sandstone walling and dressings.

only part of the CCA in which this sandstone and red sandstone were flagstone is the dominant stone type. used in the construction of many of the larger, more important Callander Masonry Style 3 is most common in buildings of this period, such as buildings constructed in the period banks, hotels and churches. following the arrival of the railway (mid to late 19th century), but it continued Many buildings displaying this to be used until the early 20th century. masonry style are located on Main It is the most common masonry style in Street. In most cases, older buildings the Callander Conservation Area, and would have been demolished to occurs in all parts of it. redevelop corner sites at cross streets and other prominent locations. Masonry Style 4 Masonry Style 4 is also characterised This masonry style is characterised by ornate carving and detailing. by the use of imported sandstone for The relatively soft, homogeneous, both walling and dressings (Figure imported sandstone allowed masons 7). It first appears after the arrival of to produce a level of detail that was the Dunblane, Doune and Callander not possible with the hard, pebbly Railway in 1858 and was used in conglomerate. As a result (and in buildings until the First World War. line with a widespread, general Large, regular-sized, smooth ashlar improvement in masonry skills), blocks of regularly coursed buff facades became more detailed

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with architectural elements such as of town development up to the First string courses, cornicing, large bay World War. For much of this time, windows, parapets and towers. other widely available, easy to use and popular building stones were Conclusion available, raising the question of why Four distinct masonry styles are the conglomerate remained popular in recognised in Callander buildings, Callander for so long. The locals may each characterised mainly by the have been aware of its importance to combination of stone types used the character of their town and its sense for walling and dressings. The first of identity. Alternatively, the importance appearance of each masonry style of maintaining the local quarrying typically reflects a change in the industry (and the associated jobs) may availability of stone building materials have over-ridden the aesthetic and as the town developed. The main economic reasons for using imported events affecting the availability of stone. Today, the conglomerate plays materials were: the opening of local an important role in defining the quarries (c.18th century); the arrival ‘sense of place’ within the CCA. of the railway in the second half of the 19th century; and the First World Although imported stone has been used War (which coincided with the rapid extensively, and man-made materials demise of the building stone quarry are used almost exclusively in modern industry in Scotland). With just a few buildings, the widespread and long-term exceptions, natural stone has not been use of locally sourced conglomerate, used in buildings constructed since the flagstone and slate has ensured that First World War, leading to a gradual the built heritage within the Callander dilution of the traditional character of Conservation Area continues to reflect the built heritage in Callander. the local bedrock geology.

Locally sourced conglomerate Emily A Tracey (‘Callander puddingstone’) is the Building Stones Conservation most widely used natural stone Specialist building material in the Callander British Geological Survey, Edinburgh Conservation Area. The conglomerate is an unusual building stone in terms Acknowledgements of its appearance and the fact that This paper is published with the it is not easy to work (compared to permission of the Executive Director, sandstone and flagstone, for example). BGS (NERC). Nevertheless, it was used at all stages

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Scotland — Looking at the Natural modification of the Earth’s surface Landscapes by Peter Friend. Collins and large scale geological processes. New Naturalist Series, London, 2012. These lead into more focussed Paperback, 466 pp. Price £30. ISBN assessments of the episodes through 978-0-00-735906-6. which Scotland’s rocks have been conjured and sculpted into such remarkably varied scenery. There follow nineteen chapters in which regions with some degree of landscape homogeneity are considered in detail, from Galloway in the south-west to Shetland in the north-east. A short concluding overview reprises the main themes of plate tectonics and glaciation.

The red meat of the book is contained in the regional chapters, each of which features a short historical introduction followed by more extensive sections on ‘Stories from the Bedrock’ and ‘Making the Landscape’. Much detail is packed into these accounts, and some complex issues are tackled, yet the text remains accessible and entertaining. But what really struck me throughout the book is the splendid This is an ambitious book, setting quality of the illustrations, of which out to provide a comprehensive there are 325, all in full colour. Well- integration of Scotland’s geology chosen oblique aerial photographs, and landscape development. No many appropriately annotated, are wonder it runs to a chunky 466 A5 interspersed with maps and figures pages. An introductory chapter sets that utilise modern digital and out the rationale and is followed by graphical techniques to good effect. two others that address in general Happily there is no attempt to save terms the principal factors influencing space by reducing the size of the

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illustrations to the detriment of their Introducing Geomorphology — A content, with just a few exceptions guide to landforms and processes where the images are also rather by Adrian Harvey. Dunedin dark, figures 120 (Coll) and 159 Academic Press Ltd., Edinburgh, (Kinnoul Hill) for example. These are 2012. Paperback, 124 pp. Price exceptions though and the overall £9.99. ISBN 978-1-906716-32-5. standard of illustration is impressive. I particularly liked the regular inclusion of sea level curves for the coastal regions — and their comprehensible explanation! Of course there are some inevitable irregularities and contradictions, mostly trivial and probably apparent only to those with some pre-existing local knowledge. From my vantage point I noted that the prominent linear valley coincident with the Glen App Fault in Galloway, and very obvious in aerial views, sometimes seduced the Southern Uplands (sic) Fault away from its true course to the north along the Stinchar Valley (Figure 52 for example). However, such pedantry should not detract from this excellent book, which concludes with suggestions for further reading (maybe just a trifle idiosyncratic) and a usefully extensive index. Friend’s Scotland will be of This book is the latest volume interest and value to anyone seeking in Dunedin Press’s ‘Introducing’ to understand the Scottish landscape series (see reviews of companion and the eons of geological activity that volumes in The Edinburgh Geologist have created it. and Scottish Journal of Geology). Geomorphology, the scientific study By Phil Stone of landforms of the surface of the earth, should really be of interest to us all. Long the preserve of physical geographers until recent decades,

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geomorphology provides the linkages (chapter 3), regional tectonic and between geography, geology and volcanic processes are very briefly climate. No longer can geologists discussed with longer sections regard it as ‘gardening’, and a good on the influence on the evolving thing too! landscape of bedrock lithology and structure. Drainage evolution is According to the author Introducing developed in more detail and the Geomorphology is ‘not intended as chapter concludes with an interesting a textbook’. Nevertheless it packs discussion of the links between in a wealth of geomorphological regional and global processes across concepts and UK and overseas Europe. In this section an informative landform examples which should colour map shows the major interest any senior school student geological structural units of Europe or undergraduate embarking on superimposed by Pleistocene glacial the study of geomorphology. It is and permafrost limits. based on the author’s extensive teaching and research experience Arguably readers can relate best to at the University of Liverpool. The ‘local-scale’ geomorphology (chapter text is concisely written, and a useful 4) — as this refers to landforms and glossary provides basic definitions of processes that they can observe technical terminology highlighted in in the field. This chapter begins bold throughout. with a discussion of weathering processes and influence of climate on The book sets out to define weathering regimes. Then, in turn, geomorphology in terms of spatial slope, fluvial, aeolian, glacial, coastal and temporal scales and succeeds systems are described. Inevitably in linking geological processes and in an introductory volume such timescales with observed landforms. as this, the reader is left wanting Thus, at global (e.g. continental) further explanation. Although this scale, Chapter 2 describes how is a good tactic encouraging the plate tectonic processes over tens to enquiring mind, throughout the hundreds of millions of years have chapter processes and landforms formed mountain ranges, plateaux get limited and variable treatment. and plains and also demonstrates the Thus fluvial processes and landforms influence of Quaternary glaciations are described in some detail but over the last 2 million years in glacial and fluvio-glacial processes moulding the present day landscape. (which have had such a profound At ‘regional-scale’ (e.g. river basin) influence on landform evolution in

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northern Europe) are condensed example, the series of four images into half the number of pages, and showing landslides (fig. 4.9) and the vast array of glacial and fluvio- the series of four showing glacial glacial depositional forms is described depositional landforms, (fig. 4.29 a single paragraph with the aid of mentioned above) could have been a series of four small illustrations reduced in number. Other larger (fig.4.29). To assist the reader format photos work well and clearly discover more, a brief personal illustrate the features being described selection of further reading, including (e.g. fig. 4.26 Glaciers, fig. 5.1 Grains several classic texts, is presented Gill, see below). near the end of the book. Whilst the classics have indeed stood the test Chapter 5 introduces the reader to of time it was surprising not to see a landscape evolution through time. It few more recent texts get a mention uses contrasting examples from the (e.g. Glaciers and Glaciation by D I ‘tectonically stable’ Howgill Fells of Benn and D J A Evans, Arnold, 1998, north-west England and the Sorbas presents an excellent discussion of Basin of south-east Spain (where sediment-landform associations and neotectonic activity continues to the landsystems). present day) to illustrate how relative and absolute dating techniques can Illustrations are of variable quality. be applied to decipher the sequence Whilst the maps and most diagrams of events. In the Cumbrian example are clear and instructive, some of the the loose interplay of terms such as photographs (mostly taken from the boulder clay and glacial till could author’s collection) are disappointing. have been avoided although both It is not so much the quality of are defined in Chapter 4 and the the originals but the size of the Glossary (where ‘dimicton’ should reproduced images. In attempting to read ‘diamicton’). Figure 5.1(excellent show a very wide range of landform large format photograph of Grains examples, the publishers of this small Gill and accompanying interpretive format book have necessarily had sketch) shows the key landforms. to compromise on image size. The Radiocarbon, luminescence and smallest of the images measure only cosmogenic dating techniques are 65 by 45 mm. Whilst satisfactory summarised (on p. 102 for ‘ions’ read for close-ups these are really too ‘isotopes’) and Figure 5.2 includes small for landscapes or even outcrop Richard Chiverrell’s summary scale detail. Fewer but larger images diagram of hillslope activity over would have worked better. Thus, for the last 3000 years in north-west

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England and south-west Scotland. Despite the quibbles about some Interestingly, this correlates alluvial of the illustrations, Introducing fan sedimentation phases mainly Geomorphology should inspire many with human impact rather than to go out there with an enquiring climatic wettening periods. Perhaps mind. Whether on a walk in the there is a lesson here with regard Scottish hills or on the Mediterranean to the extensive modern hilltrack coast, whether on holiday in Iceland infrastructure currently being or visiting some arid part of Australia developed for windfarms across the or Africa, wherever you are there Southern Uplands. is an opportunity to consider how the scenery around you reflects The final chapter 6 is little more the tectonic setting, rocks and past than a postscript and briefly outlines and present climates. Introducing societal issues including the effects Geomorphology provides many of the on river catchments of major dam relevant clues. schemes and climate change impacts. A section on scientific organisations is By Andrew McMillan supplemented in the Further Reading section with useful websites.

Addendum: Arthur Holmes and the Communication of Geology

In the last issue of The Edinburgh have reported the part played by Dr Geologist, number 51, we ran an Michael Johnson. Dr Johnson was article on the late Professor Arthur the initiator of both the exhibition Holmes, and commented favourably project and the adjacent memorial on the exhibition illustrating his plaque, and did much of the work that has been established in necessary background research and The Grant Institute, University of organization. This should have been Edinburgh. Janet Bell, Curator of acknowledged in the original article the Institute’s Cockburn Museum, and we apologise to him for the was justifiably complimented on omission. the exhibition, but we should also

Edinburgh geologists_issue52.indd 29 14/08/2012 11:48:23 This issue: No. 52, Autumn 2012

1 Editorial ramble Hutton reconstructed and illustrated, fossils lost and found, dying for science, and a musical survivor

7 Geology in the Pre-Raphaelite landscape: William Dyce’s Pegwell Bay by Alexis Drahos and Christine Thompson

11 Reflections on a geological centenary by Peter Dryburgh

16 The evolving use of building stones in the Callander Conservation Area by Emily A Tracey

25 Book reviews Scotland — Looking at the Natural Landscapes Introducing Geomorphology — A guide to landforms and processes

29 Addendum: Arthur Holmes and the Communication of Geology

Cert no. SGS-COC-003231

ISSN 0265-7244 Price £2 net

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