115 



Woolford, there is an angular block of Greenstone, weighing at 

 least 4 cwt. ; and near to Blackdown, is another of Greenstone, 

 which was dug out of a field in draining; and moderately sized 

 pieces of the same kind of rock are also found in many of the 

 Gravel pits. At Cropthorne and Pershore I saw some, and 

 along the Eiidgeway they also occur, but not of large size ; near 

 to Weston Park I found a large boulder of MUlstone Grit.* 



Having frequently, in my investigations, heard of boulders 

 which are not now to be found, I believe they have, within the 

 last few years, been extensively used for road making. Even 

 in the Yale of Moreton, where Mr. Hull mentions in his 

 Memoirs they " are by no means rarely scattered over," many 

 have disappeared. 



Should my view be correct that the same additional tidal 

 action formerly prevailed, which now exists in the Severn, as 

 compared with other rivers in England, it is not improbable 

 that the Boulders and Boulder Clay, so extensive in other 

 parts of the kingdom, may have been mostly removed from the 

 neighbourhood of Gloucester, (where the effect of the tide must 

 have been great, and the extent of denudation large, as is shown 

 by the great width of the valley,) during the submergence that 

 brought the marine Shells, which are found in the Gravels of 

 the Severn, and in the subsequent upheaval of the land. 



Whence Pebbles forming Gravel are derived. So varied are 

 they that Dr. Btjckland, quoting from the Rev. W. B. 

 CoNYBEARE, says, " That it would not be difficult in the Valley 



* Mr. EoBEBT Tomes informes me that near Dorsington, at Uddewell, was a 

 large block of Sussex Marble, containing Paludina and other characteristic 

 Purbeck Shells, which, when taken up and broken for road material, made by 

 measurement, eight tons. This stone was close to a fine spring, forming a well, 

 supplying the village. The tradition held by the villagers is that the devil 

 kicked it from the top of Meon Hill, at Bidford Church, but falling half way, it 

 became embedded by the side of the spring. It is supposed to be a Roman 

 well — Dorsington is derived from the Latin, Dorsum, a back or ridge, and so 

 signifying a village thus situated. 



As Purbeck Marble was at one time extensively used for chiu'ches I am 

 disposed to think this was not a boulder, and yet it seems improbable it should 

 have been left in such a position. 



