lO 
PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD CLUB 
1915 
industry in the soil of the cottage gardens, and where the last nail-maker 
died early in 1915 ; at Clearwcll, where they were made in a shed at the back 
of the present Nailers’ Arms, and in sheds adjoining certain of the cottages; 
and probably at Ellwood. 
Mr Richardson then made some remarks on certain river features as 
exemplified in the part of the Wye Valley between Goodrich and Redbrook. 
lie referred to Mr S. S. Buckman’s observations on the meanders of the Wye 
as recorded in the “Proceedings ’’ of the Club,^ and said that it appeared to 
him (Mr Richardson) that at Redbrook they had an example of a large meander 
whose neck had been cut through, and that the Wye had there straightened 
and shortened its course. If they referred to maps of the neighbourhoods 
of Goodrich and Redbrook they would sec that at the former locality the 
Wye from the cast side of Goodrich went round a six-mile course to near 
Rocklands, where it was distant only three-quarters of a mile from its portion 
to the cast of Goodrich. It was obvious that the neck was once narrower, 
but the river had ceased impinging near Rocklands. If it had gone on im- 
pinging the neck would eventually have been severed, the river would have 
straightened its course, the stream at Lydbrook and that from the neigh- 
bourhood of English Bicknor would have passed along the line of the present 
deep valley at Coldwell Rocks to the straightened Wye, and probably in 
the valley between Kerne Bridge and Lower Lydbrook there would have 
been one stream flowing towards Kerne Bridge and another towards LoAver 
Lydbrook with a low divide between them. 
In the neighbourhood of Redbrook it looks very much as if the Wye 
had, when at a level of about 430 to 450 feet, followed a course very similar 
to that which it now does in the neighbourhood of Goodrich, only the meander- 
neck has been severed at Redbrook. The road from Upper Redbrook to 
Newland passes up a valley, which would correspond with that between 
Kerne Bridge and Lower Lydbrook. At Newland a stream, fed by brooks 
from Clearwell and the neighbourhood of Whitecliff (Coleford) proceeds south 
to Valley House, bends round and goes first northwards and then north-west- 
wards to the Wye at Lower Redbrook — a course that corresponds very well 
with that of the valley between Lower Lydbrook and Rocklands. 
At the conclusion of the Secretary’s observations. Dr. T. S. Ellis also 
made some remarks. Maps were examined and the prominent points of 
interest in the landscape, such as The Buckstone and the Great Doward close 
at hand, were indicated by Members familiar with the locality, after which 
al fresco luncheon was taken on a spot much frequented by excursionists, 
but which on this occasion had been left nearly entirely to the use and enjoy- 
ment of the Club. Far below the winding river, discoloured by the red 
soil disturbed by rain and flood, flowed rapidly towards its junction with the 
Severn at Chepstow, but time did not permit of a descent to its banks, nor 
even of a visit to the neighbouring Coldwell Rocks, which, like the Seven 
Sisters and other sections of the limestone gorge through which the river 
meanders, add so much to the picturesque features of the scenery. [L.R.] 
After a short motor ride the Members reached Mailscot Lodge, where 
a walk was taken in the wood under the guidance of Mr Frank Smith. Here 
was to be seen a windbreak of spruce planted along the eastern side of the 
wood to protect it from cold winds. The oak which formerly grew here 
was felled in 1898, and the spruce was planted the following year. The 
INIailscot Forest Nursery is one of the best in the Forest, and Mr Richardson 
mentioned that Mr Flanson had informed him that 450 lbs. weight of seed 
of spruce, larch, and silver fir had been obtained and sown in the Forest 
nurseries. This is an emergency sowing and will be used probably in planting 
I Loc. cit., vol. xiii., pt. i (ib99), pp. 25-32- 
