146 Origin of the British Flora. 



Preglacial (Cromer Forest-bed): — 



Ostend, Norfolk ; Happisburgh, Norfolk ; Pakefield, 

 Suffolk. 



Castanea sativa, Mill. 

 (Ridley, Journ. Bot., 1885, p. 253.) 



Charcoal of Chestnut was discovered by Mr. H. N. Ridley 

 associated with Palaeolithic implements between Crayford 

 and Erith in Kent. 



The Chestnut is not usually considered to be a native 

 of Britain ; but Mr. Ridley suggests that owing to the 

 value of the fruit any trees found would be enclosed and 

 become private property at an early date. I have not yet 

 discovered any corroborative evidence; but as the tree is a 

 dry-soil species it can only be expected to occur rarely 

 in the fossil state. Large beams of Chestnut are not 

 uncommon in old castles and abbeys ; these may be of 

 foreign origin, for they are associated with building-stone 

 which has undoubtedly come by water. 



Fagus sylvatica, L. 

 Neolithic : — 



Southampton Docks (Shore and Elwes) ; Crossness, 

 Essex (wood determined by Marshall Ward) ; Fenland 

 (A. Bell). 



Preglacial (Cromer Forest-bed) : — 



Happisburgh, Norfolk. 



Also recorded from Fahrenkrug, in Holstein, associated 

 with Brasenia (Carl Weber); and from Honerdingen, in 

 Hanover, associated with Juglaus and Platanus (Carl 

 Weber). 



