98 GEOLOGY OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT, 



accessible to strangers, we proceed to Ryde, the 

 quarries at Binstead in the vicinity of that town 

 exhibiting good sections of the freshwater strata, 

 which extend through the island from Headon- 

 hill on the west, to St. Helen's and Bembridge 

 on the east. On landing at Ryde pier, if at the 

 recession of the tide, it will be instructive to notice 

 the appearance of the surface of the sand and 

 silt that extend along the shore, for it is often 

 deeply impressed with ripple-marks produced by 

 the action of the waves ; and similar appearances 

 will be presented to our notice on the slabs of 

 limestone, and laminated clays and shales of the 

 wealden, and other ancient deposits.* 



The sea-shore at Ryde, during the last century, 

 has undergone a remarkable change in its geolo- 

 gical character, which is worthy of attention. Sir 

 Henry Englefieldf states that, "when Fielding, 

 in the year 1753, was at Ryde, on his voyage to 

 Lisbon, the town was totally inaccessible except 



On a late visit to Ryde, the wind having ;t few hours previously been 

 exceedingly variable, 1 found the ripple-marks formed on the surface of the 

 muddy dunes by the agitated waters of a very remarkable character, and 

 strikingly resembling the appearance of the limestone covered with fossil 

 fuei. from the Alleghany Mountains: and shortly afterwards 1 obtained from 

 I 111 W I allien at Sandown-bay a slab of shelly marble, with the upper-surface 

 rippled in precisely a similar manner. 



I " Descriptions of the Picturesqui Bi nth Intiquitie , and Geological 

 Phenomena ol the Isle of Wight," bj Sir Henrj ('. Englefleld, Bart. 18 1C 



p. 16. 



