STRATA AT POUNCEFORD. 
225 
The limestone here, as in Archer’s Wood, and 
at Brightling, lies at the depth of from 30 to 
upwards of 100 feet, and is extracted by means of 
shafts, sunk in the most favourable situations ; the 
stone is dug from under the shale to a considerable 
distance, the excavations forming an area of many 
acres, occasional ])rops of limestone being left to 
suj)port the strata, as is shovvm in the annexed 
section of one of the principal shafts. 
The sections formed by the shafts are hid by 
the frame-work employed ; but, from the speci- 
mens of the beds pointed out to us by the work- 
men, it appears that loam, friable sandstone, and a 
thill layer of grit, with a succession of blue lami- 
nated shale, more or less slielly, are generally 
passed through, before the limestone is reached : 
the latter is irregularly divided into three layers, 
but the thickness of the whole seldom exceeds two 
feet. It is more friable than that of Archer’s 
Wood ; and the softer masses are composed of 
white brittle shells, held togetlier by clay or shale. 
The lime it produces is in great estimation * 
among the agriculturists of that part of Sussex. 
The dip of the strata around Pounceford, as in 
all the surrounding district, is as various as pos- 
sible, the disruption of the beds being so great 
that faults, and horses, as the risings of the strata 
are called in Sussex, are observable in almost every 
quarry. Tlie bottoms of the deep glens are 
* A kiln, containing 600 bushels, is converted into lime in twenty- 
four hours ; it sells for 6d. per bushel. 
Q 
