The Geology of the Bridgwater Railway. A Brief Account of Lias 
Cuttings through the Polden Hills in Somersetshire. By 
J. F. Mostyn CiLarke, Assoc. M.Inst. C.E. 
(Read 28th January, 1891.) 
The object of the present paper is to place upon record some 
account of the Geological formations exposed in the cuttings of the 
Bridgwater Railway, the construction of which opened up a 
continuous line of excavation threugh the heart of the Polden 
Hills. Belonging mainly to the Lias and Rhetic Beds, it was” 
anticipated that the Geological sections would be of interest, a 
supposition which proved to be not altogether unfounded. 
Having had charge of the construction of the railway until 
near the completion of the earthwork, the Writer has prepared 
the present paper in the belief that his description of the strata 
may be of value, when the slopes of the cuttings are overgrown. 
The railway extends from Edington to Bridgwater, passing to the 
north of the village of Cossington, where the summit is reached of 
that portion of the hills through which the Railway runs, and where 
there is the longest cutting, which practically extends for a mile. 
Starting across King’s Sedgemoor from Bridgwater terminus, 
the railway extends northwards, crosses the Great Western 
_ Railway, and from that point continues in an almost direct line to 
_ Bawdrip village, where it enters the first cutting. The portion of 
_ the Moor crossed between Bridgwater and Bawdrip lies nearer 
_ the Bristol Channel than the King’s Sedgemoor of battle fame, 
otherwise some interesting antiquites might have been discovered. 
_ The Moor is level all the way, with only here and there local rises 
of a foot or so, and it has been within the range of history little 
better than a gigantic marsh. Its strata cousist of a grey silty 
_ lay, varying very much from place to place. At Bridgwater, for 
instance, it is fairly stiff upon the surface, becoming moister and 
_ more treacherous lower down, until Black Quicksand is reached. 
