THE SYENITES OF SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE. 
9 
varying from 1 to 8 feet in diameter, and these are often sur¬ 
rounded by coat after coat of rock which scales off under 
blows of the hammer. 
2. Narborough .—We now retrace our steps, and passing by 
Narborougli village cross the famous old Roman road called 
the Fosse Way, which runs straight as a line from this point 
to High Cross. The road to Huncote diverges here from the 
Fosse Way, and close to its northern side we have another 
very large quarry (worked by Messrs. Nowell and Robsonj in 
which syenite is again visible. Those who refer to the 
Government Geological Map of South Leicestershire will 
not find this outcrop of igneous rock marked upon it. It was 
either missed by the geological surveyor or was then covered 
over by Iveuper Marl and soil. The stone is of a much redder 
tint and is more compact than that of Enderby, but is of the 
same general nature. 
3. Croft Hill .—This hill is of a beautifully conical form 
and is a marked feature in the scenery of the district. Its 
height is about 580 feet above the sea, and 300 feet above the 
surrounding plain. It has been attacked on two sides, a large 
quarry being worked on the north-east flank close to Huncote 
village, while very extensive workings have of late years been 
opened in the south-east corner, near the village of Croft. 
Proceeding from Narborougli we walk through Huncote 
village and enter Mr. Marston’s fine quarry. This is now in 
good working order ; the floor of the pit is level, of great extent, 
and about 80 feet below the surface. The stone is wheeled in 
trucks along tramways laid on the floor of the pit, and is then 
raised to the surface by a novel and effective lift ; it is of 
excellent quality. 
Walking towards Croft along the side of the hill we pass 
several openings or “ trial-holes ” which have been made to 
prove the quality of the rock. We note here that the rock has 
• a speckled appearance ; the white spots are due to the partial 
decomposition of some of the felspar crystals. 
The quarries near Croft village are very large and have 
been ably developed by the manager, Mr. Pocliin. Here again 
we see the Keuper red marls and sandstone resting upon the 
syenite, from which they slope rapidly away in all directions. 
Embedded in the lowest stratum of the Keuper are many 
large masses of syenite; this is splendidly seen in a deep 
cutting made for the laden stone-trucks to pass out of the 
pit. On the sides of this quarry too we see above the 
red marls in one place a fine exposure of the drift. This 
is the term applied to the accumulations formed during the last 
glacial period, when these islands were covered by ice, which, 
gathering together to form glaciers, pushed over the surface, 
