38 STRATA OF TILGATE FOREST. 



able thickness. Advancing from the Downs, on the Brighton road, the 

 outcrop of the sandstone is first seen near Taylor's bridge ; and it sub- 

 sequently appears on the margin of the stream that winds along the foot 

 of Cuckfield park, a quarter of a mile south of the town. At this spot an 

 excavation has been made, which exposes to view a perpendicular rock of 

 sandstone about twenty feet high ; the strata are nearly horizontal, and 

 vary from one to five feet in thickness. 



The hiU, on the southern slope of which the town of Cuckfield is 

 situated, is also composed of this formation, and in a field adjoining the 

 church-yard, the sandstone is seen lying beneath a thick layer of diluvial 

 affffresate, and containing; subordinate beds of hmestone. 



From the cultivated state of the country, and the quantity of loam 

 and vegetable soil, I have been unable to trace the outcrop of these de- 

 posits with the requisite degree of accuracy. In a northerly direction 

 they extend from Cuckfield through Handcross, and Tilgate forest, to 

 Crawley, and on the north-west probably as far as Horsham, and St. 

 Leonard's forest ; eastward I have not noticed them beyond the vicinity 

 of Lindfield ; but it must be acknowledged that from the causes already 

 mentioned, their geographical extent is but imperfectly known. 



On the line of road extending from Hicksted to Crawley, several 

 quarries have been opened for obtaining the stone for architectural and 

 other economical purposes, and in these excavations the strata may be 

 examined with facihty. 



In the sections that were accessible to observation, some variations 

 were noticed in the composition and relation of the beds ; but these were 

 neither constant, nor important; and the entire series is readily identified 

 by the extraordinary character of its organic, remains. 



The following section is the result of numerous observations, and 

 may be regarded as the order in which they generally occur; commencing 

 with the lowermost deposit. 



Section of the Strata of Tilgate Forest. 

 1. Blue tenacious clay destitute of organic remains, and of an indeter- 



