224 ME. L. D. STAMP ON" THE HIGHEST [vol. lxxiv, 



succession of cornfields at the top of the hill at an altitude of 

 1500 feet O.D. Where the dip of the strata is considerable (as, 

 for example, near the great fault), the hills have a more conical 

 form with steep sides. Bucknell Hill may be mentioned as a good 

 example of this latter form. 



The hard, evenly-bedded Hags of the Upper Glionetes Beds cap 

 many of the hills (for instance, Caer Caradoc l and Hodrey Hill) ; 

 but, where the crests are formed of Temeside Shales, the hills are 

 lower, more rounded, and characterized by a red soil which is said 

 to be particularly suitable for wheat-growing. 



Several of the larger valleys seem to be determined b} r fault-lines. 

 The deep valley near Selley Hall, which has been taken as the 

 western boundary of the area considered, is a typical rift-valley. 

 Part of the Redlake Valley itself, east of Chapel LaAvn, is probably 

 determined by a fault-line. 



The valleys are remarkable for their content of ' drift, 1 a fact 

 that is noted on the original 1-inch map of the Geological 

 Survey. This ' drift ' consists almost entirely of material of local 

 origin, and includes big angular blocks fallen from the neighbouring 

 hills, and smaller waterworn pebbles. In certain places the latter 

 predominate, and a true alluvium is formed : as, for example, in the 

 large area of recent deposits near Purlogue, covering at least one 

 square mile at a level of 750 feet O.D. An extensive lake seems to 

 have occupied the site at one time, and from the red colour of its 

 shores (cut in Temeside Shales) the River Redlake possibly derives 

 its name : although here, as in many districts, the suffix ' lake ' may 

 mean simply ' stream.' 



All the larger streams in the district are re-cutting their courses 

 in the recent deposits, and have rarely cut down to the bed-rock. 

 At Chapel Lawn the alluvium exceeds 20 feet in thickness, and 

 Saxon remains have been found at a depth of 14 feet. In one part 

 of its course, however, the Redlake flows through a narrow gorge 

 about 60 feet deep. It is very significant that this gorge is imme- 

 diately below the large area of alluvium mentioned above, and it 

 was doubtless formed when the old lake burst through its lower 

 boundary. 



It is only in the little wooded gorges which mark the upper 

 courses of the smaller streams (in man}'' cases including the springs 

 at their source) that continuous sections of solid rock are visible, 

 and such sections are usually very short. 



In passing, it may be. of interest to note the distribution of 

 glacial erratics. Big, and usually smoothed, blocks of pale 

 conglomerate and grit occur very frequently on the hills to the 

 north of Chapel Lawn, but not on the hills to the south. At 

 several localities these boulders have been collected to form stone- 

 circles. Glacial drift obscures the exposures on many of the hills 

 to the north. 



1 Not to be confused with the better-known hill of the same name near 

 Church Stretton. 



