I recently visited Bethersden to see if any quarries were now visible, 

 as the stone has not been dug for some years. Westward along the 

 Wissenden road in the woods on the right some depressions were reported 

 as sources. Tuesnoad farm is north of Wissenden ; here the stone is 

 seen in walls and steps, in pieces about three to six inches thick, dark 

 and heavy with iron oxides. About half a mile north-east I found an 

 enclosed piece of rough ground, in which were three pondlike depressions 

 from which the stone had been taken, and I was also informed that in 

 places it was only plough deep. 



Across the fields to Stamford bridge over the Beult on the road 

 south of Pluckley station, a field just to the south-west was pointed out as 

 named " Quarry field " and here the stone was seen in the bridge and 

 buildings, and with ragstone in the " Dering Arms " Hotel at Pluckley. 

 I understand that it has not been dug locally for many years. 



John L. Dunk. 



EXCURSIONS 



TN the annals of the Society 1955 will rank as a record year. 



During April the South Eastern Union of Scientific Societies held 

 its sixtieth Congress in Folkestone and under the able guidance of our 

 President, Mr. Birch, educational tours were planned for the afternoons. 

 These started with a walk around Folkestone Parish Church, the Bayle 

 and the Harbour with Dr. Esme Stuart as leader. Subsequently, Dr. 

 E. Scott and Miss D. Long conducted botanists, entomologists and 

 zoologists to explore Westwell, Hothfield and Little Chart ; geologists 

 visited Warren Defence Works with Mr. Adams, the Chief Engineer, 

 while archaeologists, inspired by Major Rand, explored Wye College, 

 the Church and ancient occupation sites on the Downs ; Mr. Worssam 

 directed geologists to the Stour Valley near Ashford to observe Hythe 

 and Sandgate Beds at Great Chart, Folkestone Beds at Kennington and 

 the Lower and Middle Chalk between Wye and Brabourne. Under the 

 leadership of Dr. Francis Rose, botanists travelled to Saltwood to study 

 the two Golden Saxifrages (Chrysofplenium spp.) ; to Romney Warren 

 for grasses, clovers, etc. of sand dunes ; to Dungeness for early spring 

 flowers and mosses of the coastal shingles. 



Birds are easily frightened so only twenty ornithologists were invited 

 to Dungeness Bird Observatory. To many, this was new ground and 

 although birds were scarce, the region was interesting. 



18 



