By W. Reward Bell, F.G.8. 



85 



or future. The most important point I wish to bring under your 

 notice is the question as to whether or not coal is to be found in 

 the neighbourhood of Westbury. Of the existence of the older, 

 or Palaeozoic, rocks under our feet there can be no doubt, but as to 

 the existence of coal that is another matter. The central axis of 

 the Mendips, shows an inclination to trend round to the north 

 through Frome ; and if the high dips west of Frome continue 

 there is a probability that the millstone grits and lower coal 

 measures may roll in under Westbury, but, as I have before ex- 

 plained, a doubt as to their position must remain, which can only be 

 settled by actual boring or trial. Such a trial bore was made some 

 time ago at Witham Hole, four miles south of Frome, which passed 

 through the Oxford Clay, cornbrash, and forest marble, to the depth, 

 of 600ft., when it was stopped; had they bored twice that depth, 

 or even to 1000ft., the coal measures might have been reached. Nor 

 is this the only trial that has been made in the past ; a boring was 

 commenced at Trowbridge, but abandoned on account of water; 

 another attempt, as far back as 1815, was made to sink to the lower 

 rocks at Melksham, but this was also defeated by water at a depth of 

 some 351ft. or thereabouts, after the cornbrash, or Kelloway Rocks, 

 had been reached. But when the near exhaustion of our present 

 coal-fields becomes imminent, more effectual trials no doubt will be 

 made to find workable coal seams below the newer rocks. 



In conclusion may I add that, apart from the economic side of 

 the question, the study of geology is worth following for its own 

 sake, giving a new interest to those who live in the country and 

 care to observe the things around them. 



It is anything but a dry subject, although 1 fear that my 

 discourse may itself have been rather of that nature. 



