1855.] HULL ON THE COTTESWOLDS. 483 



of about 900 feet above the present centre of the vale. On the sup- 

 position that this was the position the beds formerly occupied, their 

 subsequent destruction is sufficiently accounted for upon the prin- 

 ciples already enunciated. 



The headland which terminates in Notting Hill, west of Winch- 

 comb, has probably originated in the combination of a synclinal ar- 

 rangement of the strata with the protection afforded by the outliers 

 which acted as breakwaters against the force of the Glacial Sea 

 driving from the north. 



The Valley of Bourton-on-the-Water appears to have originated 

 in the existence of an anticlinal traversing its centre from north to 

 south. Along the western flank, at Clapton, the Oolite has a very 

 decided dip to the westward of 4° or 5°. On the eastern side, the 

 dip is perceptible in a quarry of Oolite, and is about 3° east. 



The headland on the eastern flank of the Bourton Valley has pro- 

 bably been preserved rather by the position which the high ground 

 of Stow-on-the-Wold occupies with regard to it, than from the 

 strengthening effect of a synclinal ; though it is not improbable that 

 the beds of which it is formed possess in addition a synclinal ar- 

 rangement. 



The Vale of Winchcomb also appears to present an instance of an 

 anticlinal valley ; for, while engaged in tracing geological boundaries 

 along its western side, I could not but observe a decided inclination 

 of the beds towards the south-west. 



It therefore appears that, though the strata of the Cotteswold 

 Hills and the valleys by which they are surrounded have a general 

 dip towards the south, yet the district is traversed by a series of 

 gentle rolls, with north and south axes, and that the anticlinals have 

 produced lines of weakness^ originating valleys ; and the synclinals 

 lines of strength^ originating headlands. 



Valleys of Domes or Quaquaversals. — Besides the valleys I have 

 already referred to, there is another class which appear to have 

 resulted in quaquaversal or dome-shaped arrangements of the strata. 

 This arrangement we infer to exist, when we find in a certain part of 

 a valley much lower beds reaching the surface than occur further up 

 or lower down ; and it is evident that the lithological characters and 

 mutual arrangement of the rocks composing the district under con- 

 sideration would, on the occurrence of a quaquaversal, produce an 

 area of weakness tending to the formation of a valley ; and to these 

 weakening causes must be added the probable production of fissures, 

 and slight faults occasioned by the swelling up of the strata. 



The Valley of Painswick offers a good illustration of a quaqua- 

 versal ; as also those of Northleach, Turkdean, Andoversford, Tad- 

 dington, Guiting Power, and the long narrow gorges which extend 

 from Compoden Ashes to Hinchwick Farm, and from Kate's Britton 

 to Tainton. 



As a particular instance, I may mention the Valley of Chedworth, 

 south of Northleach (figs. 4 & 5). It consists of a longitudinal 

 gorge, widening in the centre, and extending westward for a distance 



