Some Remarks on the Geology of Alderton, Gretton, and Ashton- 
under-Hill, by Freperick Suirue, F.G.S., &c., and W. C. 
Lucy, F.G.S. 
In the summer of 1879 the Lias quarries of Alderton and 
of Gretton were examined by the Geologists of the Cotteswold 
Club, and afforded instructive sections ; and some time after a 
visit was made to the exposure of Lias rock at Ashton-under- 
Hill. All these quarries were then being worked, and the notes, 
sections, and observations made by the authors on the spot, have 
helped to contribute to this report of the geology of at least Alder- 
ton, less so of Gretton, and least of Ashton-under-Hill, the 
varying proportion of time given to each place being mainly 
due to circumstances, such as untoward weather. The excur- 
sion made to Alderton was immediately after a heavy fall of 
rain the previous night, the water well nigh filling the quarry 
to the brim, and cutting off, to some extent, access to the upper- 
most strata of the shales of the Upper Lias, and of the junction 
line underlying them, which was a point of special moment. 
Against this drawback, two advantages were scored in favour 
of the working Geologists—one was, that close by the quarries 
stood some large and inviting stacks of the Marlstone of the 
Spinatus beds, rich in fossils, as well as a goodly spoil bank of 
the overlying seams of Upper Lias shale, which the quarrymen 
had removed to enable them to get at the solid Middle Lias 
rock. Besides this gain, it was no small advantage to observe 
- the manner in which the water was percolating through some 
20 ft. to 30ft. of the Paper shales, working through the joints 
of the rock, and over the cleavage planes, so that the beds were 
dripping and streaming in every direction, the whole forming 
an imposing and instructive sight, which we shall have occasion 
again to refer to. Notes have been made on the spot, and have 
since been put together, and that jointly, as it has been sug- 
gested that they may be of service to those who have not had 
.-. Ae 
