2l6 ON THE OCCURRENCE OF WESTLETON BEDS 



The next section is that of the gravel pit just north of Cireat 

 SaHng Church. This exposure is very fine (see figure), and 

 consists of: — 



Brick-earth — Boulder Clay . . 6 feet. 



Middle Clacial gravel . . . o ft. to i ft. 



Westlcton shingle . . 12 ft. (not bottomed) 



The peculiarity of the Brick-earth is that the decalcification of 

 the chalky Boulder Clay is incomplete, leaving a nodule of Boulder 

 Clay unchanged about midway in the section. This phenomenon I 

 believe to be rare. The Middle Glacial gravel thins off to the right 

 and left, and at a few feet distance is reduced to an inch in 

 thickness. 



It would seem as suggested by Prof. Prestwich that the beds may 

 be still more developed in the Thaxted direction. The most 

 northerly point that I could trace was the pit at Park Hall Farm, 

 Great Bardfield. I saw gravel from this pit which could be at once 

 identified as Westleton, but was unable to visit the spot. Again, I 

 am credibly informed that sands precisely similar to those at 

 Stebbing are developed at Shalford and Wethersfield, that is on 

 both sides of the Blackwater river at that place. 



On the other hand, there is but small chance of examining what 

 is perhaps but a remnant of the Westleton beds south of the area I 

 have drawn. The mid-glacial and overlying beds effectually conceal 

 the Westleton where it exists. In the village of Felstead the drift 

 deposits attain a thickness of from forty to fifty feet. Yet it is well 

 known that the lower stratum of gravel varies widely from the mid- 

 glacial type. It is, in fact, Westleton shingle or sand, and is the 

 water-bearing stratum into which wells are sunk. The thickness 

 varies from a few inches to six or ten feet, but I regret that I cannot 

 as yet speak with precision of any well-section. Apart from this 

 general remark, which applies to the neighbourhood around, there 

 does not appear to be a section which can be adduced in further 

 illustration.-^ 



APPENDIX. 



[Letter /rem Mr. R. //as/er, referred to above (/. 2 1 5).] 



iMr. J. French, Felstead. 



Dear SrR, — The well for Jubilee Pump in this village is twenty-eight feet 

 deep, and the soil twenty-five feet down was half white or chalky clay, and the 



3 Some post-glacial deposits have been mentioned in the above article, and the question will 

 naturally be asked as to the evidence of their age. As they are all curious 1 purpose to treat of 

 them specially in another paper. 



