SDS" A hief Account of the 



tencla south, lill it becomes too argillaceous to be very vakia** 

 ble. I.inie is Fo\ind also in the Clec hills ; in a small de- 

 gree in the south-west district; in many places south of 

 Shrevvsburv, but of a brown colour, and less pulverizing 

 quahty. West of Shrewsbury, it is gotten in considerable 

 quantities in the parishes of Cardiston and Alberbury ; and 

 at Porth y wain and Llanymvnach, on the west confines, is 

 a hill of limestone of an excellent quality. At the east end 

 of the Wrekin,and at some other lime-works, is a red lime 

 that will set very hard in water. Mr. Smcaton discovered 

 that lime, with a certain proportion of clay and iron, did 

 best under w ater. And the colour of the lime here spoken 

 of indicates its having these component parts. Much of 

 the limestone of this county is near the surface; but near 

 Leebotwood, about nine miles south of Shrev;sbury, it " is 

 covered by 20 yards of argillaceous strata*." " Limestone 

 is also found near Caughley, under 20 yards of argillaceous 

 and sandstone strata. It is a yard thick, but not workedf-" 

 Ironstone is found in the neighbourhood of Wellington, 

 Coalbrook Dale, ard Broseley. In and near the Clee hills 

 it is also met with ; and Dr. Townson has taken notice of 

 a species of ironstone in the Llwyn y main colliery, near 

 Oswestrv, which he ascertained to be a mixture of spatous 

 iron ore and the common argillaceous ironstone. He ob- 

 serves, that the best iron and steel, viz. those of Styria, are 

 made of spatous iron ore ; and therefore he judges that this 

 may be found very valuable. Mr. William Keynolus in- 

 forms me there is a very good stratum of spatous iron ore 

 found at Biihngslcy, but that it is not worked. 



This county is also well supplied with building stone ; 

 and its north district, which could be but little noticed for 

 the subterrr.neQus treasures we have been speaking of, stands 

 pre-eminent for its quarry at Grinsell, seven miles north of 

 Shrewsbury, where is a white sandstone, superior, perhaps, 

 to any in the kingdom : the top rock lies in thin strata; 

 the bed is 20 yards thick. There is plenty, also, of good 

 red sandstone in the neighbourhood. The same may be 

 said of the east side of the county ; and near Bridgnorth 

 beds of red sandstone are found under white sandstone; 

 and again, beds of white sandstone under the red. This 

 appears a singular division and alteration of the cements. 

 Iron particles give their colour to the red stone; and it is 

 on tljis account, probably, that the weather has more in- 



• Dr. Townson's F.stays, p. 187. 

 t Mr. Williiin Rfyr.cl.U. 



flucnce 



