VOL. XX. (3) 
FIELD MEETINGS 
175 
FIELD MEETINGS, 1920. 
EXCURSION TO THE ANDOVERSFORD DISTRICT. 
Saturday, May 8th, 1920. 
Director : L. Richardson. 
On Saturday, May 8th, some of the members visited the Andoversford 
district, mainly with the object of studying its geology. 
From Andoversford Station (which was reached at 11.44 a.m.) they walked 
across the fields to the Syreford Springs. The springs are not the source of 
the Coin, for a rivulet (the Coin) comes down the Charlton-Abbotts Valley, 
but they contribute an abundant supply of water. 1 The water issues forth 
from the junction of the Upper Lias clay with the Inferior Oolite, and is 
derived from the rain that has sunk through the porous rocks of the high 
ground that stretches away towards Sevenhampton Common. The waters 
are impounded and form a picturesque pond — once a mill-pond. Now, 
however, they do not supply the motive power to drive the water-wheel of 
a corn-mill, but just before the war it was intended to establish a trout farm 
here. A few sheds and troughs bear witness to this intention. 
The Director made a few remarks on the probable past, present, and 
probable future history of the streams in the neighbourhood, and his observa- 
tions were followed by an animated discussion. He pointed out that in his 
view these facts were certain : The Chelt and Isbourne were growing head- 
wards — the former up the Chelt Valley, the latter up the Charlton-Abbotts 
Valley, and that in due time the Chelt would capture the headwaters of the 
Coin. The Syreford Springs would then contribute to the Severn and not 
to the Thames system. 
From the springs the members walked along the road to Whittington. 
A short distance up the hill they turned into a “ gravel pit ” on the right 
on the 600 foot contour-line. The gravel consists of fragments of Inferior 
Oolite limestone, with — especially near the top — a considerable amount of 
clayey matter. The Director expressed the opinion that this rock debris 
had been dislodged and moved down hill somewhat during Glacial times. 
The Cotteswold Hills did not exhibit evidence of having been severely 
glaciated, but it was obvious that they must have been for the most part 
covered with snow and their rocks affected by frost and by the waters derived 
from the melting snows. 
Next a quarry in the Lower Freestone of the Inferior Oolite was 
visited, and an account was given of the conditions under which the rock 
had been formed. 
A pleasant but uphill walk brought the members on to Sevenhampton 
Common. On the way up the salient features of the landscape were pointed 
out. 
1 See also S. S. Buckman, Procs. Cotteswold Nat ■ F.C., vol. xiii., pt. 3 (1900), pp. 175-185. 
