In two papers, by Messrs. S. V. Wood, jun., and F. W. Harmer, recently read, before the Geological Society,—alluded to by Mr. Belt, in the GeologicalMagazine for April last,—this Rootlet-bed at Kessingland has been referred to, and described as an interglacial shallow valley deposit; of an age posterior to the Contorted Drift or Lower Boulder-clay, lying in a trough excavated out of the Chillesford Clay. To make their description more intelligible, the authors (Messrs. Wood and Harmer) subjoin a sketch-map—in their combined, paper “Observations on the Later Tertiary Geology of East Anglia,” read November 8th, 1876—and indicate by a broken line the connexion of this trough with the existing (!) valley systems of the rivers Waveney and Yare—which are here mainly cut out of the Chalky Boulder-clay and Middle Glacial Sands—thus apparently assuming that, before the Middle Glacial Sands and Chalky Boulder-clay were deposited, there were valley systems occupying much the same positions in this immediate locality as there are now, with the addition of the supposed continuation of the interglacial valley of the Waveney in a south-easterly direction to Pakefield and Kessingland.
This excursion was arranged to study the Valley of the Thames between Goring and Pangbourne. The party, numbering about fifty, were met by the directors at the Reading railway station, at I I a.m., then walked to Caversham Bridge, embarked on the steam-launch Fashion, specially engaged for the Association, and proceeded up the river, passing throuah the beautiful scenery of the Thames Valley, in the neighbourhood of Mapledurharn, Pangbourne, etc., to Goring. An old pit, in the wood by Hart's Old Lock, was pointed out as showing the Chalk Rock, which marks the junction between Upper and Middle Chalk. At Goring, the members disembarked, walked through the village of Streatley, noticing several large sarsens by the roadside, and then ascended the steep incline of Streatley Hill, the latter consisting for the most part of Upper Chalk capped with a small outlier of Reading Beds, and being a prolongation of the Chiltern Hills, seen on the northern side of the river. Arrived near the summit, a magnificent view was obtained, the Thames Valley from this point presenting a very gorge-like appearance; and the party, after their climb, were glad to sit here a while and listen to a dissertation by Mr. Whitaker on the denudation of this part of the Thames Valley. He remarked that whilst it was commonly said that the escarpment was breached by the valley, it might perhaps be more correct to say that the valley was cut across by the escarpment. The former expression seems to imply that the escarpment is the older of the two, whereas there is much to be said for the view that the valley was first started more or less along the general line of dip by a transverse stream, and that the escarpment was then began by the erosion of lateral, or longitudinal tributaries. The deepening of the valley and the cutting of the escarpment would go on together afterwards.
\Vidford, where they were joined by some of the members of the Essex Field Club who had been for a botanical ramble under the guidance of Mr. E. Durrant, one of the Hon. Sees. of the Essex and Chelmsford Museum. On their return to Chelmsford, the united party found an excellent tea provided at the Saracen's Head Hotel. Mr. E. A. Fitch, the President of the Essex Field Club, occupied the chair, and Mr. T. V. Holmes, a Vice-President of both Societies, the vice-chair. On the proposition of Mr. Holmes, seconded by Mr. Fitch, a cordial vote of thanks was given to the Director. After tea, on the invitation of Mr. Durrant, some of the members visited the church and museum. The return train left Chelmsford at 7.50 p.m. REFERENCES.
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