146 Of'igm of the British Flora. 



Preglacial (Cromer Forest-bed): — 



Ostend, Norfolk; Happisburgh, Norfolk; Pakefield, 

 Suffolk. 



Castanea sativa, Mill. 



(Ridley, /^2/r«. BoL, 1885, P- 253.) 



Charcoal of Chestnut was discovered by Mr.H. N. Ridley 

 associated with Palaeolithic implements between Crayford 

 and Erith in Kent. 



The Chestnut is not usually considered to be a native 

 of Britain ; but Mr. Ridley suggests that owing to the 

 value of the fruit any trees found would be enclosed and 

 become private property at an early date. I have not yet 

 discovered any corroborative evidence ; but as the tree is a 

 dry-soil species it can only be expected to occur rarely 

 in the fossil state. Large beams of Chestnut are not 

 uncommon in old castles and abbeys ; these may be of 

 foreign origin, for they are associated with building-stone 

 which has undoubtedly come by water. 



Fagus sylvatica, L. 

 Neolithic : — 



Southampton Docks (Shore and Elwes) ; Crossness, 

 Essex (wood determined by Marshall Ward) ; Fenland 

 (A. Bell). 



Preglacial (Cromer Forest-bed) : — 



Happisburgh, Norfolk. 



Also recorded from Fahrenkrug, in Holstein, associated 

 with Brasenia (Carl Weber); and from Honerdingen, in 

 Hanover, associated with Juglans and Platamis (Carl 

 Weber). 



