LLONGBORTH OF LLYWARCH HEN'S ELEGY. 49 



The bulk of the alluvial deposit in this district, consists 

 of a bluisli clay, and sea-silt. Those who have seen in 

 how short a space of time the worked-out clay-pits about 

 Bridgwater are filled up, by the subsidence of the muddy 

 waters admitted from the river Parret, will not be at a loss 

 to comprehend the character of the agencies which, in the 

 course of centuries, would cause a considerable elevation 

 in the surface of the piain throughout. 



In a paper on the " formation of Marsh Peat" (read at 

 the Conversazione of the Society at Taunton, January 24, 

 1853,) by the Eev. W. Phelps, it is stated that " on the 

 banks of the Parret, near Crandon Bridge, the alluvial 

 deposit is from eight to ten feet deep, over the peat ; and 

 in digging the foundation for the new bridge at Burrow 

 Bridge, in 1828, the alluvial deposit was 16 feet, and the 

 peat 14 feet in thickness, resting on a bed of marl." Half 

 the rise in the level at Burrow Bridge, so clearly proved 

 by the observations recorded by Mr. Phelps, would be 

 quite enough to account for all the physical conditions 

 which our hypothesis requires. 



That these deposits have taken place to some extent, 

 and for a considerable depth, within a comparatively recent 

 period, and during the time that the surrounding country 

 was inhabited by the human race, is very evident fi*om the 

 character of the various objects which have, from time to 

 time, been discovered in the clay-pits and turf-moors. 



Mr. Stradling in bis valuable paper on the Turbaries,* 

 gives an interesting account of the different antiques dis- 

 covered by him, in what he styles the bottom of "the 

 Lake," whose waters reached up to Glastonbury. Among 

 those things, evidently of British origin, besides flint- 

 epears, and Celts, he mentions three oars or paddles, 



* Vide The Society's Report, for 1849-50, p. 60. 

 1853*, PART II. G 



