HAMDON HILL. 81 



reinarldnof that the Rev. Professor was mistaken in Statins; 

 that our ancestors had cuUed the best of the stone ; 

 for it is well known, and evidently to be proved, that 

 formerly the rocks had beeu worked down to a certain 

 depth only, and left covered up with rubble ; below which 

 the quarry-men are now cutting. And it is an experienced 

 fact, that the most compact and durable stone is found at 

 the greatest depth ; and this, notwithstanding the de- 

 nouncement 1 have mentioned, must still be esteemed a 

 valuable material for massive or ornamental building. It 

 has been classed as inferior Oolite. Its composition ap- 

 pears to be sea sand and minute fragments of broken shells, 

 conglomerated and crystaUized together, with carbonate 

 of lime and iron ; and occasionally entire sheUs of pectines, 

 belemnites, and others are found, but usually at the bottom 

 of the rock. 



A well haviug been sunk from the top of the hill, to the 

 depth of about 120 feet ; with the assistance of a respected 

 friend, a young engineer, I have been able to make a 

 seetion,* frora which we learn that about 40 feet of Harn 

 Stone is penetrated from the top ; next about 80 feet of 

 what is termed Brim Sand, with strata of rouuded boulder 

 stones ; next beneath is the Upper Lias ; then Marl Stone. 

 Between the masses of rock are many fissures, or chasms, 

 called by the workmen GuUies, running across the hill, 

 which appear to have been formed by a lift fi-om beneath, 

 rending asunder the rock. These are of various width and 

 depth, and lined with stalactite ; in them have frequently 

 been found iron and bronze iraj)lements, coins and armorial 

 and organic remains. A considerable quantity came to 

 light sorae years since, of great interest, which will here- 

 after be mentioned. 



* Now in the Museum. 

 1853*, PART II. L 



