70 



" there with an intention of running a canal from the 

 " Mersey into the Dee, near Hoylake." 



3. There was, within the last twenty years, a Roman 

 sudatory visible on Hilbre island ; but the recent changes, 

 mainly connected with the telegraph station, have removed 

 it from view. 



4. The traditions of the district and observation 

 mutually confirm each other — that in certain parts the sea 

 is gaining on the land. Between the Hoyle bank and the 

 shore the sand from the Dee is deposited, and the land is 

 extending ; but at the part of the shore opposite the 

 eastern point of the bank, the force of the waves is 

 unbroken, and here the water is extending. It is just at 

 this point that the antiquities were procured, and that the 

 other evidences exist of the site of habitations below high 

 water mark. 



5. The Hoyle bank itself is undergoing important 

 changes. Within less than a century it was visible at all 

 periods of the tide, and in all seasons ; and in an ancient map, 

 a copy of which is said to be preserved at Mostyn Hall, in 

 Flintshire, cattle are represented as grazing upon it. 



6. To the east of the point where the antiquities were 

 found is the locality called the Submarine Forest. Down 

 to the low water mark there are numerous indications of 

 vegetable matter, a few stumps of trees being imbedded in 

 the sand, and the whole surface being strongly impregnated 

 with decayed vegetable matter. That the neighbouring 

 land has in like manner undergone important changes is 

 evident from the following. : — ■ 



About twelve months ago, the Birkenhead Commis- 

 sioners were engaged in making one of their numerous and 

 beautiful roads, from AVoodside through Wallasey plain. Near 

 the point which communicates with Poulton bridge, there 

 was a cutting of about eighteen feet, containing a tunnel 

 nine feet in diameter. The upper surface, to the depth of 

 six or eight feet, consists of alluvial deposit ; and " beneath 

 " this is a black mass similar to a coal seam, about six feet 

 " in thickness, composed of decayed leaves, branches, bark, 

 " and trunks of trees, intermixed with hazel nuts, and the 

 "mast of other common inhabitants of the forests. Nurne- 

 " rous entire stems have been found, principally of oak and 

 " birch, the former being generally pretty sound, while many 

 '• large and small pieces of the latter are in sufficiently good 

 " preservation to enable those who know the wood to deter- 

 " mine the kind to which it belonged. Most of the timber 



