474 Reviews — The Work of the Geological Survey. 



of the plateau overlooking Clieadle the ground tuaintains a fairly 

 uniform height of 700 feet above sea-level, and the top of the hill 

 at Cheadle is at the same height. 



The drainage of the area is effected by the two rivers the Churnet 

 and the Tean and their branches. Of these the Churnet is much 

 the larger, and flows for the most part in a deep valley, often almust 

 a gorge ; and so regular on the whole is the plateau on both sides 

 of the river that it is often possible to look across the deep valley 

 without realising its existence. The chief branches of the Churnet 

 are three in number, and flow through the Consall Woods, the valley 

 between Ipstones and Froghall, and the beautiful gorge of Dimmings 

 Dale. The gorge is renowned for its steep, craggy, and densely 

 wooded sides. It is cut in the Triassic rocks ; the other two 

 channels are in the Carboniferous. Though less gorge-like than 

 Dimmings Dale they both have steep and craggy sides locally. 

 The country about Cheadle is drained by small streams flowing in 

 shallow hollows, which unite to form the Tean, and eventually flow 

 into the Churnet to the south of this area. 



Much of the ground is permanent pasture, and this is specially 

 the case where the soil is formed of the heavy Carboniferous shales 

 and clays. Of the lighter lands, formed of the sandstones and grits 

 of this formation, a considerable portion is under the plough, and 

 the same is true where the soil is formed of the dry Triassic sand- 

 stones. Even here, however, may be noted the same tendency to 

 lay ground down in permanent pasture that is seen in many other 

 parts of England. 



Several minor industries are carried on in the district. Of these 

 silk-spinning at Cheadle is mainly due to local cheapness of 

 production ; a manufacture of which the town of Leek may be taken 

 as the centre. Brick-making is carried on to a considerable extent, 

 the Coal-measure shales and clays being employed for this purpose. 

 The bricks are of excellent quality. 



There are large copper-works in the Churnet Valley close to the 

 railway at Froghall and Oakamoor. The industry is still retained, 

 although the original deposit of copper-ore at Ecton Hill which 

 gave rise to it has been long since abandoned. There were also 

 formerly brass-works near Cheadle which had a high reputation, 

 but these have fallen into decay. 



Coal-mining is the most important industry of the district, and 

 gives employment to a considerable number of men. There are 

 at present six collieries at work, but only two, the Foxfield and 

 the Delphouse, are connected with a railway, so as to be able to 

 send coal out of the district ; the others can only supply local needs. 



The coal-workings of this district are of great antiquity. They 

 can be traced back as far at least as the reign of Richard III. Tiie 

 coal-seams outcrop at the surface, and, not being concealed beneath 

 drift or Boulder-clay, were ploughed up in the fields, and so came 

 to be early recognised and used as fuel. In the majority of cases the 

 old workings for coal were started from the outcrop, and therefore 

 required no great engineering skill to develop. They all appear 



