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Hedgemead into the valley. The Sands and Sandstones below 

 are seen dipping at an angle of 30°. These in their more regular 

 positions are the collecting beds of the water thrown out by the 

 Upper Lias clays immediately below and all along the hill-side 

 above Hedgemead. 



In the last century before Bath had emerged from the valleys 

 and had not even extended itself beyond the area occupied by the 

 Eomans, Hedgemead had no system of drainage and no roads, 

 and was chiefly occupied by gardeners who lived in little shanties 

 on their separate holdings, all the water from above finding its 

 way downwards under the accretions which covered up the edges 

 of the disintegrated marls of the lias. 



It was when this state of things still existed, Sir William 

 Chambers struck with the magnificent prospect from above the 

 Hedgemead proposed the erection of the present fine pile of 

 buildings, the Camden Ci'escent. It was commenced in 1790. 

 Immediately behind it are beds of inferior Oolite succeeded by the 

 sands, and the cellars and foundations of the houses were in the 

 Upper Lias. Ifc was soon observed that the foundations were 

 treacherous, and piling operations were resorted to to give solidity, 

 which appears to have been so far successful, but the entire 

 crescent was never completed. 



Three houses at the eastern end which appear in old prints were 

 left in skeleton and were subsequently removed. Many small 

 houses in streets and terraces, suitable to residences for the 

 artizan and mechanic classes were afterwards built, some of 

 which almost from the first showed signs of movement, and of 

 late houses of a still better class, which unfortunately only 

 add weight to an insecure surface and help on the creeping move- 

 ment of all thereon towards the valley. It has inflicted a great 

 hardship on many a working man whose savings have been 

 expended in the purchase of his cottage, which has had to be 

 condemned. 



It is due to the civic authorities to say that though not legally 



