102 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF 
where the new red sandstone forms the eastern bank 
of the river^ and other patches are found in the higher 
ground on the western side, in an almost vertical 
position. Other irregular beds are discovered to the 
west of the range ; but in the parishes of Rock, Abber- 
ley, Mamble, and Bayton, and the chapelry of Pensax, 
a more extended field is opened, though irregularly 
disposed, and from whence the contiguous parts of 
Herefordshire are supplied. The range of this coal 
is limited and very irregular. The coal is found at a 
depth varying from 45 to 200 feet, lying under a su- 
perincumbent bed of clunch. In some places a bed 
of sandstone overlies the clunch. The thickness of 
the coal measure is from 20 to 30 inches, and for the 
most part two horizontal measures run parallel with 
each other, separated by a twelve-inch clunch.^ From 
these two measures the principal supplies are procured. 
This coal is highly bituminous, end is unfit for the 
use of the smithy. It seldom finds its way beyond 
the rural districts, except in very hard winters, but is 
much used as coke for the hop kilns. It has been 
imagined that a thick measure of better coal might 
be discovered deeper in the earth, but none such has 
been hitherto found, and no good reason exists to 
suppose that any such will be discovered. 
Our attention is next directed to the Dudley coal 
field in the extreme northern portion of the county, 
and its attendant hills of limestone and basalt, magni- 
ficent features of this part of the country. A great 
portion indeed of this formation is in Staffordshire, 
1 MSS. of the Rev. Thomas Pearson. 
