144 



Observations upon a Bed of Fuller^s Earth at Whiteshill, near 

 Stroud, hy E. Witchell, F.G.S. 



In a paper published, in the Transactions, Vol. 4, p. 227, I 

 expressed an opinion that the dry valleys or Combes of the 

 Cotteswolds, have been in a great measure formed by the erosive 

 action of springs thrown out by the Fuller's Earth, at a period, 

 when that formation extended westwards over the whole district. 

 That in the course of time the Fuller's Earth was removed by 

 denudation, and in consequence, the springs ceased to flow, and 

 the Combes became dry. 



This opinion has been recently confirmed by the discovery 

 of Fuller's Earth at Whiteshill, near Stroud, in explanation of 

 which, the following observations are made. 



It is scarcely necessary to mention that along the outer 

 Escarpment of the Cotteswolds the Capping consists of the 

 Trigonia beds of the Inferior Oolite, or, where those beds have 

 been removed, by the Freestones ; it is only where a deep bay 

 breaks the line and is prolonged into a Combe, that the Fuller's 

 Earth is seen near the Escarpment, and in these particular 

 instances there are springs in the Combes above the Inferior 

 Oolite. The Combes at Crickley and Selsley Hills, may be cited 

 as examples. The long ridge which commences at Doverow 

 Hill, near Stonehouse, and terminates near Birdlip, contains 

 several Combes which at a higher level than the lias are dry, 

 and it is upon a si^ur on the south side of this ridge at Whites- 

 hill, north of Stroud, that I have discovered the presence of 

 Fuller's Earth. The spur in question is formed by two Combes, 

 running nearly parallel with each other, the direction being 

 north-east and south-west. The Combe on the north-west of 



