The Geology of Sussex

100 Pages·2013·13.39 MB·English

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1
The Geology of Sussex

Age In millions Key to geology Section along the line drawn on the map
01 years
Recent and
River AlluVium and Beach Deposits
45 Pleistocene
Bracklesham Beds and Bagshot Beds South Downs Ashdown Forest
I
Eocene and
Palaeocene London Clay Brighton Ditchling Scaynes
Woolwich and Reading Beds
Hill
70
Chalk

100
Upper Greensand

Gault

Folkestone Beds

105
Sandgate Beds and Bargate Beds

horizontal scale vertical scale
Cretaceous Hythe Beds
o kms 10
Lower Greensand (undifferentiated)

120 Weald Clay

TU(lbrldge Wells Sand
130 Wadhurst Clay
Ashdown Beds
140 Purbeck Beds
• Billingshurst
Brighlon X
Worthing
Untehamplon
o kms 20
o miles 10
Wliat on 2'artli is under Sussex?

A Series of Essays

Exploring the History of Geology in Sussex
Organised, edited and designed by

Anthony Brook

ofthe

West Sussex Geological Society

----<. ----­
----.:. ----­
Published for the
West Sussex .:4rcftives Society

by Guildbourne Publishing, Worthing, West Sussex, BNll 4BQ
Journal of West Sussex History
General Editor: Dr Philip MacDougall
Editor of No. 77 (2008-09): Anthony Brook
Published November 2009
New Edition, with Corrections and an Index, published in April 2010
by Guildbourne Publishing, Worthing, West Sussex, BNll 4BQ
Copyright is assigned to the Editor for the Introduction (pages 7-8), and to the Contributors

for their respective essays. No part of this publication may be stored, reproduced or

transmitted, in any form whatsoever, without the prior consent of the copyright holder.

Requests for pennission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed, in the

first instance, to the Editor of this double-issue of the journal, whose email address is

.'!D1bol}y..brQQkV~.pJ.in!.~rm~tS.Qll]
Acknowledgement is hereby given to the following persons and/or organ.isations for permission to reproduce the
material specified.
Inside Front Cover (colour map of Geology of Sussex) and Introduction (map of Natural Regions of Sussex) Dr
Rendel Williams, from ' An Historical Atlas of Sussex', edited by Kim Leslie and Brian Short, published by
Phillimore in 1999. Essay 1 (Mather) Figs. 1, 4-7 & 9, from the extensive Collections of the Royal Pavilion and
Museums, Brighton and Hove; Figs. 8 & 10, from the Map Collection in the Brighton History Centre, Brighton
Museum; Figs. 12 & 13, Mr D. Robert Elleray, reduced reproductions of Nos. 21 & 22 in his 'Brighton: A
Pictorial History ', published by Phillimore in 1987. Essay 2 (Mayer) Fig. 3, The Geological Society of London,
for allowing photocopying of an archival document prior to transcription; Fig. 6, Johns Hopkins University, for
specific pages from P.R.Feldman ' British Women Poets of the Romantic Era ', 2001. Essay 3 (Cooper) Fig. 2,
from the Mantell Archive at the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New ZeaJand; Fig. 3, from tl1e M;!p
Collection at the Brighton History Centre, Brighton Museum; Figs. 4 & 6, the Loc;!l Newspaper Collection, on
microfilm, in the same library. Essay 4 (Keene) The Royal College of Physicians, for the Engraving of 'Portrait
of Dr Mantell ' 1837. Essay 5 (Duffin) Figs. la & lb are illustrations 6 & 7 respectively in Holleyman and
Merrifield, 1987, and come from the Toms Archive in the Brighton History Centre, Brighton Museum; Figs. 2a­
2c, 3, 7a-7b, John Behague, from his 'Lucky Sussex', published by Pomegranate Press in 1998; Figs. 4 & 5,
Worthing Reference Library. Essay 6 (Bate) Fig. lA, Worthing Reference Library; Figs. 2, 9 & 10, the British
Geological Survey and the National Environment Research Council (details beneath relevant Figs.); Figs. 3 & 4,
courtesy of tl1e Estate of Edward Martin (d.1943); Fig. 7, Dr Rendel Williams, 50% reduction of Fig. 2.6 (p. 26)
in 'The Future of the South Downs', edited by Gerald Smart and Peter Brandon, 2007. Essay 7 (Bone) Figs. 1 &
3, from the author's Collection; Fig. 2A, The Geologists' Association (details on Fig.); Fig. 2B, Joint Nature
Conservation Committee (details on Fig.).

Whilst every effort has been made to contact copyright holders in a very short period of time, should any

copyright holder feel that tJ1ey have been missed or misquoted, tJ1ey are at liberty to contact the Issue Editor, at
the em;!il address above, to enable corrections to be made for any future reprintings.
-----.:. ---­
The Front Cover displays the most significant of several slightly-different versions ofthe engraving ofthe
famous quarry at Whiteman's Green, where the 'Strata ofTilgate Forest' were exposed. This 9-man version,
which foims the frontispiece to Mantell's Rlustrations ofthe Geology ofSussex (1827), commemorates the
auspicious visit to the quarry by Gideon Mantel~ Charles Lyell and William Buck1and on the rainy afternoon of
Sunday, 7th March 1824, only a fortnight after Buckland had presented his paper on Megalosaurus to the
Geological Society. All three geologists are wearing tophats, but Mantell is the figure standing behind a superb
specimen ofthe large fossil fern, Sphenopteris montelli. Whether it is Lyell or Buckland wielding the hammer
with such vigour is not known. Quite an image for posterity, of Gideon Mantell and his scientific associates.
2
What on Earth is under Sussex?
Table of Contents
Foreword. . . . . Page
Introduction ....... ... ......... ... .............................. .................. ...... 5

............... ............ ... ...... ...... ...... ...... ............... ...... 6-7

Part 1
1. John Mather (Royal Holloway, University of London)
'Taking the Waters at Brighton, 1750-1850' .................................8
2. Wolf l\1ayer (Australian National University)
'Rev. Charles Wilton and his Pre-Emigration Geological

Investigations in West Sussex' ................................................21

3. John Cooper (Royal Pavilion and Museums, Brighton)
'Gideon Mantell and the Brighton Press, 1834-1838' ......................33
4. Melanie Keene (Darwin College, Cambridge University)
'Gideon Mantell and the Art of seeing Pebbles' ............................47
5. Christopher Duffin
'Herbert Toms and the Geological Folklore of Sussex' ..................57
6. David Bate (British Geological Survey)
'Edward Alfred Martin and 'The Glaciation of the South Downs' ...65
7. David Bone (West Sussex Geological Society)
'Martin Venables and the Natural Science and Archaeology

Society of Littlehampton, 1933-1938' ......................................79

Part 2 (Published separately, later, as companion volume)
8. Roger Cordiner (West Sussex Geological Society)
'Some Geological Observations in Sussex, 1650-1800'
9. Leonard Wilson (University ofMinnesota)
'Gideon Mantell and Charles Lyell: Early Years of a

Scientific Friendship'

10. Anthony Brook (West Sussex Geological Society)
'Frederick Dixon and the Early Years of the S.A.S.'
11. Robert Robelou (West Sussex Geological Society)
'Henry Cart and the Warren Farm Well'
12. John Morton (Horsham Geology Field Group)
'Roderick Murchison and the Geology of Westem Sussex'
13. John Henly (West Sussex Geological Society)
'Landmark Books in the History of Geology in Sussex'
14. William George
'H.J.Osbome White and his Geological Survey Memoirs

of Sussex, 1910-1928'

15. Richard Hodgkinson (Natural History Museum)
'Edward Heron-Allen, of Selsey, and the Exquisite World

of the Foraminifera'

3
West Sussex 5\rchives Society

Journal of West Sussex History, Issue No. 77
The Journal of West Sussex History is normally published annually by the West Sussex
Archives Society (WSAS). However, because of this being a much-expanded edition, it
has been scheduled as a double issue that replaces the two single issues that would
have come out at the end of 2008 and 2009. The Society, in the meantime, is currently
working on Issue No. 78, which will appear in the autumn of 2010.
The theme of Issue No. 77 (2008-09) is that of the History of Geology and Geologists
in Sussex and has been guest edited by Anthony Brook, a knowledgeable local-based
expert on this subject. To him, for all his time and effort, the committee of the West
Sussex Archives Society would like to extend its heartfelt thanks.
It is now the policy of WSAS to intersperse, within its publishing programme, a mix of
themed and eclectic issues, with the latter drawing upon a general range of material
that has been submitted over a period of time. The thematic issues, on the other hand,
are deSigned to be edited by those with a particular expertise and not necessarily by
the Society's appointed editor. Should anyone feel that they would like to put
themselves forward as a guest editor, they are most welcome to contact us.
:J>PUiip Mac2)(Utgafi :J>Pt!i)
Chair, West Sussex Archives Society
[email protected]
The West Sussex Archives Society was founded in 1973 and aims to arouse and stimulate
interest in historical records and increase awareness of the need for their preservation. In
doing so, it assists the work of the West Sussex Record Office by fund raising, working
parties and other means. The benefits of membership include a free copy of the Journal, a
twice-yearly newsletter and entry to a full programme of lectures, talks, conferences and
workshops. Annual membership is £13 single / £15 joint - at the same address/ £25
SOciety or life membership at £150, plus a donation if you wish. To join, please enquire
at the Archives Office or by downloading an application form from our website which can be
accessed through the library and archives section of the West Sussex County Council
website: www.westsussex.gov.uk.
4
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The Record Office acquires, preserves

and makes publicly available the

documentary and recorded heritage of

the county. Anyone may use the service

arid access to the records is

free of charge.

OPENING fulES
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ThuRSDAY 9.15AM -7.30PM

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West Sussex Record Office,

County Hall, Chichester P019 1RN

Telephone: [phone]

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Website: www.westsussex.eov.ukJro/

THE REcORD OFFICE HOLDS THE FOLLOWL~G:· Records of individuals and organisations: Personal
Church records: collections, such as tbose of the Richard Ccbden, Walter
Registers of baptisms, ..: 'l-'T-";--'" . Hussey, and L.J . Maxse, and many other smaller private
marriages and . , {., collections. The Royal Sussex Regiment archives,
burials, and otber includingpbotographsandaudio·visual material. Records
records for parisbes 'J: ' ..~.. , .~ "'';1~"., "f".
~.".,.~. of local societies including local Women's Institutes.
in West Sussex ~ ~" T"t.'11 .t' (r-" "'-'"

from 1538. Also I . :~~ 'r''' '''~' ' ~'""P~'''.~! , ,. '~"Y'~. Local Government records: including those of West
the official records .J"'1\ -.L-i{.,...",... Sussex County OlUncil and District Councils, Poor
of the Bishops of "<: ''i;' !~,,,,..~,:,. (,>...,... £• f;<..t.."., Law administration and the West Sussex Constabulary.
DCCofhea atihcnhe desraatneld.rC , baCinchhdae pstthteeerr <.<...;;~.=.,:... , .. ,'.,.'( l_~;.:' • •-. :t';:"-..t. I:..'\ :~'·".i \ ,..'.".. , .-'~'',.L[ 'T.L.".. ~. •• aSQncudha ocrtaoenlr a lS rseecschsoieormndses sr: .e cionrcdlsu dinec luldoignbgo polkasn s aonfd r oaadd,m raisilswioany 7i~,-cJ Diades & Passpo>'/ for II,. Maberlcyfamil)' of CI/ck/idd, 11M
.I"~' f. oll'­ registers. AddMss 19534·8
Wills: proved in . . ' .
t he Arc hdeaconry PEAaRrh 2w06 1P1a1n1s/1h
RegzslelIor Weslbourne
General Register Office indexes 1837 to 19~
of Chicbester and Microficbe readers must be booked in advance to Sl
the peculiar jurisdictions within it up to 1858, and for these.
Chichester District Probate Registl)' (which covered
most of West Sussex) from 1858 to 1928. We also hold Census records for West Sussex 1841-1891 (and 19/
copies of wills for tbe Archdeaconry of Lewes up to from January 2002)
1858. .
National probate indexes to wills proved in Englar
Family lind I!Slatl! records: The archives of the and Wales between 1858 and 1943.
Goodwood, Ccwdray, Parham, Petworth, Standen,
Wiston and other smaller estates include title deeds, Computer-held data, such as CD-ROMs for SoJdie.
manorial records, accounts and administrative Died in tbe First World War,the 1881 censuswitb an ind(
documents. The records of Petwortb House are beld at and databases for Poor Law records and Pbotographs at
Petworth but can only be consulted at the Record Office, available to consult on the ,earchroom computer.
with prior notice.
Etlwardioll Bognor sea "0111 PH 3963
Maps: Large-scale Ordnance Survey maps, dating back
to the 1870s. Tithe maps (c.1840) for nearly every parish
in West Sussex, and microfilm copies of them for most
of West and East Sussex. Estate maps from the late 16th
century, and 19th-century inclosure maps.
Newspapers: Local and County series from the mid
19th-century.
Prints, drawings and photographs: over 250,000
from the 18th centul)' onwards.
<­ You can also see:

Arulldel Castle ",building 1890. PH 400 The I.11ternational Genealogical Index (lG))
Chaner ofOslac of the South Saxcms. 780 AD C4P J1J77
5
o
o High Weald
Low Weald
Fig. 1
ot~::..... ....... aWneda Gldaeunl t GCrleaeyn Vsaalne d

WEALDEN GREENSAND and o SoulhDowflS
GAULT CLAY VALE
COastal Plain
D
WeHands
It I
• Crowborough
GIt
OJ Sl1SSTX
COASTAL
kms 20
PLAIN Cuckmere

miles 10
1790 1840 1890 1940
Period Prolo e 1820 'GoldenA e' 1880 Dorman 1920 Revival
Sussex-related Landmark Books • I 2 3 6 78:
Ge%gist 9'
William Henry FITTON 1780-1861
Fig. 2
Peter John MARTIN 1786-1860
Gideon MANTELL 1790-1852
n:MT-LI:NES Of Roderick MURClllSON 1792-1871
Charles WILTON 1795-1859
Charles LYELL 1797-1875
Frederick DIXON 1799-1849
Sl1SS'EX-'RTL:A'T'T1J
Heruy CATTIWILLETT 1824-1906
William TOPLEY 1841-1894
Edward HERON-ALLEN 1861-1943
~TOLO~Isrs Edward MARTIN 1864-1943
H. J. OSBORNE-WHITE 1870-1954
Herbert TOMS 1874-1940
in tliese Tssays
Martin VENABLES 1901-1990
1-1822 Fossils ofthe South Downs 2 - 1827 illustrations of the Geology of Sussex 3 - 1828 Geological Memoir of part ofWestem Sussex
4 - 1833 Geology of South-East England 5 - 1833 Geological Sketch ofthe Vicinity of Hastings 6 - 1850 Geology and Fossils ofthe Cretaceous and
Te· Fonnations of Sussex 7 - 1875 Geolo ofthe Weald 8- 1878 The Geolo ofSussex 9 - 1878 Record ofthe Sub-Wealden E loration
Introduction
Anthony Brook
West Sussex Geological Society
As far as I am aware, this publication is the first of its kind: a series of essays on tJ1e I-iistory of
Geology of any British County, and I must thank the West Sussex Archives Society for providing this
opportunity to innovate. Several years ago Dr Philip MacDougall, editor ofthe Journal of West
Sussex History, introduced annual thematic issues of the jO,urnal, and asked for ideas for future issues.
r
responded with a proposal for an issue of the journal on the development of the science of Geology
in the county of Sussex, a particular research area of mine for many years. This proposal became a
publishing project with an overly-long gestation period, which, I submit, was necessary to create a
professional and ground-breaking publication. Even so, to meet the strict deadline for a double issue,
the original 15 essays, from a v.ride array of contributors, some overseas, had to be split into 2 Parts,
Part 1 appearing now and Part 2 later and separately, as a companion volume. The patience and
forbearance of Dr MacDougall, the Committee and members of the West Sussex Archives Society in
regard to this publication is greatly appreciated. I an1 also most beholden to the authors of these essays
whose forbearance I similarly sorely tested in my quest for accuracy of detail, precision of language
and diversity of illustration. I ">'Quid like to believe that the end result was worth all the agony en
route. Because of the connection with the West Sussex Records Office contributors \-vere encouraged
to make an1ple use of archives and other historical collections.
It should be emphasised, first of all, that this collection of essays is as much about People as it is
about Geology ---those men with unrelenting curiosity about the landscapes and landforms of Sussex
as much as rocks and fossils per se. Those readers who are not fanliliar \-,rith the geological
foundations of Sussex may well find the clear coloured map of the Geology of Sussex, from An
Historical Atlas of Sussex (1999), on the inside front cover, most valuable, as a general reference tool.
Compared to some other counties, the geology of Sussex is relatively simple: the strata of Sussex
fonn the southern limb of a centrally-eroded, elongated-domal structure known as the Weald covering
the whole of Southeast England. TI1e various rocky underpinnings give rise to and accentuate the
Natural Regions of Sussex, as shown on the facing page.
Historians have a propensity of dividing up the eventful passage of Time into Periods, for ease of
analysis and interpretation: Geologists do likewise, devising Periods to divide up the immensity of
Deep Time on the basis of critical global events such as mass extinctions. On a much smaller
temporal and geographic scale the History of Geology in Sussex may also be viewed in tenns of
discrete periods of time, v.rith characteristic designations (Fig. 2). Tllis periodisation requires further
validation, but seems to reflect the changing intensity of geological activity in the county with the
passage of time. The Golden Age (1820-1880) merely responds to the scientific pre-enlinence of
Geology in the country as a whole in those decades.
101m Mather uses ills expertise in historical hydrogeology to evaluate Brighton's unsuccessful
attempts to become a popular spa resort based on the innovation of seawater bathing and the imbibing
ofnatural and factitious mineralised spring water. Wolf Mayer reviews the geological fieldwork ofthe
Rev. Charles Wilton in Sussex before he left England for a better life in Australia, using, in particular,
Wilton's Field Notebook, probably the earliest such Sussex artefact. Two aspects of the life and tin1es
of Gideon Mantell are examined. 101m Cooper relates his ambivalent relationship with the capricious
Brighton media whilst in the town for only 5 years, 1833-1838, and the issues associated v.rith his
celebrity status; and Melanie Keene considers Mantell's role as an inspirational mentor, who took
something small, local and recognisable, such as a peb ble, as the means of reaching out to times and
worlds far, far beyond any hun1an history. Discerning observations and empirical deductions were
keystones ofthe new science of Geology, principles willch apply equally well to the 3 gentlemen of
the early 20th century whose geological enthusiasms are extolled by Chris Duffin, David Bate and
David Bone. Herbert Toms and Edward Martin both had long associations with Brighton in different
ways, and both were concerned with singular aspects ofthe Sussex landscape, Toms v.rith petrological
folklore and Martin with a putative but unsustainable model for the origin and evolution of the South
Downs. David Bone illustrates how effectively the fossil-collecting enthusiasm of Martin Venables
translated to a small group of amateur geologists in Littlehampton in the 1930's, resulting in
significant discoveries. The 'enthusiastic arnateur' is inestimable, and may long remain so.
7
Fig. 1

Fig. 2
Plaque on the house in
High Street, Lewes
(now numbered 77)
where Russell lived
from 1687 until 1721.
Fig. 3
Royal Albion Hotel
now occupies the site
ofRussell House:
Russell is rernembered
by this tablet on its
facade. Contrary to the
inscription, Russell House
was for his patients:
Russell lived at South
Dr. Richard Russell F.R.S. (1687-I 759), founder of BrightOn as a health resort in 1750. Born in Lewes,
he set up a practice on the Steine in 1754, and his work Disst:Ttatian on the Use ofSea Water in Di<rnses ofthe Mailing, near Lewes.
Glallds (1752) became the handbook for all those seeking the sea-water cure. This portrait by Benjamin
Wilson (formerly ascribed to Zoffany and now in BrightOn Museum) was for many years displayed in
the Old Ship Assembl)' Rooms and is thought to have been commissioned by a former prop,ietor,
William Hicks.