Part of Gloucestershire and Somersetshire. 359 



south, 30° to 38° west, at an angle of 30° to 36°. On the east of the high sand- 

 stone ridge, the strata, both of the sandstone and limestone, are gradually in- 

 flected from the south to the east, and then to the north. The limestone is 

 thus spread over Mendip, in a space of three miles, as far as the road that 

 traverses the range from West Harptree to Wells ; in which expanse I have 

 traced its dip, at angles varying between 8° and 25°, from the south 38° west, 

 to the south, south-east, and east ; and to the east 40° north, at an angle of 15° ; 

 this last observation having been made on the top of the descent above West 

 Harptree. To the east rises a second eminence of sandstone, not much infe- 

 rior in elevation to the former, but of a different character. 



If we now return to the west along the northern body of limestone, we find 

 the dip of its strata gradually increasing, until in Burrington comb they are 

 inclined to the north 38° east, at an angle of 56° when in contact with the 

 slate clay, and of 65° in the crest of the escarpment. From hence, they main- 

 tain a similar position, in a nearly rectilinear course, through^ "the ridge of 

 Dolborough, Sandford, and Banwell, toward Hutton and Uphill ; dipping in 

 the ridge, at angles varying from 65° to 78°, to the north 15° to 25° east. 

 This range of limestone gradually declines in elevation from the meridian of 

 West Harptree on the east, past Burrington, to Banwell on the west ; but 

 from hence it rises again gently toward Bleadon hill, though with some in- 

 terruption near Hutton, On the top of that hill, the stratification appears 

 nearly horizontal. Hence, coupling this observation with those made on the 

 north and the south, it is highly probable that the arch of limestone is as con- 

 tinuous in Bleadon hill, as it is to the east of Black Down or of the meridian 

 of Blagdon. 



Besides the general arrangement, now described, 1 have to notice a partial 

 inflection in the northern body of limestone. In the Dolborough ridge, the 

 strata dip 65° to 70°, toward the east of north ; but in the northern declivity 

 of the hill, and at the entrance of the comb, they gradually acquire a vertical 

 position, and then open like a fan, dipping, at the outlet into the vale of the 

 Yeo, at so low an angle as 10°, to the south 38° west. This is in fact the 

 commencement of a small undulation, which may be traced to and through 

 the low hill of Church hill, which stands out in the vale, and ranges nearly 

 parallel to the main limestone ridge; the strata in that hill being inclined to 

 the south-west and north-east on its opposite sides. I am informed that a 

 similar disposition is observable in Worl hill, which is situate in the same line 

 of range, adjacent to the channel. 



§ 41, The old red sandstone, which re-appears in the range to the north 

 of Wells, dips also on the north toward the east of north, and on the south 



VOL. VI. 3 A 



