459 



In the southern end of the basin we find a continuous area of 

 exposed Coal measures, extending from Mells on the east to Blacker's 

 Hill on the west. The strata consist chiefly of the shales and sand- 

 stones of the lower division, but at Lookham Wood and Walton 

 Farm there is a considerable development of Pennant rock. The 

 special feature in this part of the coalfield, is that which I had 

 occasion to bring prominently before your notice in a former paper, 

 viz., that during the elevation of the Mendip range the strata have 

 been folded or doubled back upon themselves, the order of super- 

 position being entirely reversed. As a consequence, we have 

 Mountain limestone resting on the under division of Coal measures, 

 the under division in its turn resting on the Pennant rock, and this 

 not for a short distance only, but over a district of country four 

 miles in length. 



Proceeding northward, the next Coal measure outcrops we meet 

 with extend in an irregular patch from Farrington Gurney through 

 Hallatrow, High Littleton, Temple Cloud, Glutton, Ghelwood, 

 Stanton Wick, Pensford, and Compton Dando to Chewton Keyn- 

 sham. At Hallatrow we find the low ground occupied by the 

 outcrops of the Farrington group of veins, but in approaching 

 Temple Cloud the Coal measures suddenly attain a high elevation, 

 forming the picturesque escarpments of Highbury Hill and Temple 

 Hill. This has been brought about by a great fault, an upthrow 

 north of 420 feet, passing east and west through Glutton Union 

 Workhouse, by which the Pennant sandstones have been lifted 

 up, carrying with them the secondary rocks which have subse- 

 quently been denuded from their higher summits. At Highbury 

 aud Temple the Pennant is extensively developed, presenting many 

 instructive sections, and dipping eastward at an angle of 20 degrees 

 beneath the Farrington series at Greyfield colliery. 



After leaving Temple the Coal measure outcrops gradually become 

 narrower until they are only visible in the bed of the brook, but a 

 little to the north of Ghelwood they suddenly attain a breadth of 

 three miles. I think it not improbable that at this point there 

 may be an east and west fault, running from Ghelwood towards 

 Coal-pit Lane, which has lifted up the strata to the north, but of 

 this we have no direct proof. In Coal pit Lane, between Moorledge 



