63 



NOTES ON SOME PECULIARITIES OF THE WEST 

 CUMBERLAND COAL FIELD. 



By R. F. Martin, M.A., (Whitehaven). 



When the writer heard last year— -at the joint meeting at White- 

 haven — the very graphic paper which was read by Mr. CHfton Ward, 

 upon the history of the formation of the Lake district, the following 

 thought suggested itself : — 



"The history of the hills as given in this paper, terminates with the 

 era of the coal formation, since which time, Mr. Ward believes that the 

 hills have never been beneath the ocean. What, then, has been the 

 subsequent history of the Lake hills? Have they had their ups and 

 downs, or stood sublimely in their place, and watched time after time the 

 upheaval and submergence of the rest of England as from a lofty 

 pinnacle ?" 



The answer to this question must be sought from the consideration 

 of the land round about the lakes : and as on one side, (and on one 

 only, so far as the writer is aware,) not only has the Geology of the 

 country been accurately observed, but also the ground has been 

 extensively worked over by our miners, it is natural that the first appeal 

 should be made to it. The writer then purposes to point out briefly 

 the data which West Cumberland (as known chiefly by her mining 

 ■population) may afford for answering the question asked above ; and he 

 must premise that he can but point out now the questions which we 

 should endeavour to answer — not himself supply the answers ; in fact, 

 he wishes if possible to elicit some information upon this subject, from 

 those more conversant with the subject than he is himself, even before 

 we are favoured with the Geological Map and Memoir for West Cum- 

 berland, in which these matters will no doubt all be made plain to us. 



