17 



The Faults which here occur deserve attention, not being the least interesting 

 phenomena which present themselves to puzzle young geologists ; the most 

 considerable of these, which runs from Mordiford for some distance in the line 

 of the Pentelow Brook to ne:ir Tarringtoii, cuts off a portion of the Woolhope 

 Limestone and Caradoc Sandstone from the central dome, and as it has the 

 effect of depressing the strata towards the north, brings these formations into 

 contact Nvith Wenlock shale, and at the Gorge near Mordiford places the 

 Ludlow rocks in opposition to Old Red Sandstone. Another fault, which runs 

 in a northerly direction east of Old Sutton and Prior's Frome, depresses the 

 strata to east, and produces in its course a double ridge of Aymestrey rock. 



The gradual percolation of water through the Ludlow rocks, which are much 

 interlaminated with argillaceous bands, and which occupy elevated situations to the 

 north and north-east, has occasioned landslips of considerable magnitude. That 

 near Dormington, which took place in 1844,* was visited by our botanical party. 

 "Adam's Rocks," on the southern slope of Backbury HUl, and "The Wonder," 

 near Putley, are also interesting examples of similar displacements. 



Descending the southern slope of Stoke Hill we crossed the excavated trench of 

 Lower Ludlow shale already alluded to, to the quarried escarpments of Wenlock 

 Limestone at Dormington Wood. The scene presented at this interesting spot is of 

 a character to strike the most casual observer with awe and astonishment. Buried 

 and embalmed in solid rock, of which they may be said to form the mass, are seen 

 the remains of millions of the early invertebrate inhabitants of our planet. Not to 

 speak of myriads of encrinital, molluscous, and conchiferous remains, the beautiful 

 corals of the formation are in such vast abundance that, to the mind's eye, a 

 modern tropical reef seems realised ; imagination pictures its millions of polypi 

 stretching forth their tiny arms in their native element, revelling in the enjoy- 

 ment of that peculiar and beautiful principle of life, which, animating 

 individually, and vibrating through the mass, associated them together in a 

 common bond of unity. After leaving Dormington Wood, our party were 

 subjected to a terrific and uninterrupted storm of thunder, lightning, and rain. 

 Our progress consequently being hastened along the line of fault, through the 

 romantic glen of the Pentelow Brook, and from thence to the Scutwardine 

 Quarries of Woolhope Limestone, we arrived at Fownhope at four o'clock. There 

 the Members dined together according to appointment, and separated late in the 

 day, after expressing many hearty wishes for the prosperity of the Woolhope 

 Club. 



CONTINUATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND FIEIiD MEETING. 



The health of the Hon. Secretary was drunk, Mr. Strickland expressing his 

 earnest hope that so valuable a report as had just been read would not be lost, but 

 be printed and circulated, for the information of other Clubs and the scientific 

 world generally, and that it might be handed down to posterity. 



The President was sure Mr. Strickland would be gratified to learn that the 

 Rules of the Club contemplated the printing of the papers submitted to it. 



* See Herejord Journal March 20th, 1844. 



