Bath, Bristol, Somerset, Wiltshire.
BATH IN STONE, a guide to the city’s building stones.
Elizabeth Devon, John Parkins, David Workman.
ISBN 978-0-948444-38-8 Thematic Trails 2001.
£2.95
A5. 48 pages. 28 photos. 8 figures. Compiled by the Bath Geological Society,
the architectural heritage of Bath is explored, blending the recognition
of building stones and the history of the city. A very useful walking guide
both for visiting geologists and the interested non-specialist visitor.
| Letter: “On a recent field trip, members of the West Midlands OUGS spent a thoroughly enjoyable day around Bath following the Thematic Trail “Bath in Stone” by Elizabeth Devon et al. We found the book superb. Please find enclosed a donation to your organisation.” Alan Davies. Open University Geological Society. (16.01.2004.) |
You can buy Bath in Stone locally at:
Bath Tourist Information Centre, Abbey Chambers, Abbey
Church Yard, BATH BA1 1LY
The Building of Bath Museum, The Countess of Huntingdon's
Chapel, The Vineyards, Bath BA1 5NA. T: 01225 333 895
Good Buy Books, 6 North Parade, Bath BA1 1LF
T:01225 469625
BRISTOL,
HERITAGE IN STONE Eileen StonebridgeISBN 978-0-948444-36-4 Thematic Trails 1999. £2.95
A5. 40 pages. 36 photos. 12 figures.
The walk explores the rich diversity of stones that make up the fabric of the City of Bristol. The expectation is that as the building stones become familiar, so comes the satisfaction of being able to identify common stones and their origin, perhaps before turning to the text for reassurance.
You can buy Bristol Heritage in Stone locally at:
Bristol Museum and Art Gallery Bookshop, Museum, Queen’s
Road Bristol BS8 1RL T: 0117-9223650
Stanfords, 29 Corn Street, Bristol BS1 1HT
Somerset
GEOLOGY & LANDSCAPE OF TAUNTON DEANE Hugh PruddenISBN 978-0-9540521-0-2 Taunton Deane B.C. 2001 £8.50
141 pages. 210 x 201mm.
| ▲ "Topics such as rocks and landforms, earthquakes,
building stones, soils, farming and hydrology form a background
introduction to a series of over 20 locations in the district which
are examined in sufficient detail to encourage local people and
visitors to discover for themselves the district’s varied geological
inheritance." (Down to Earth). |
HAM HILL: ROCKS AND QUARRIES Hugh Prudden ISBN 978-1-899983-00-1 Somerset District Council 1995.A5. 16 pages. 11 figures. £1.00
A clearly written, short trail designed for both the casual visitor and school party visiting this popular Somerset hill near Montacute House.
The above booklet is no longer available on this site. However, a booklet by Hugh Prudden (2007) called HAM HILL GEOLOGY is available to inspect or download free. To view, using Google, search for 'HAM HILL GEOLOGY Hugh Prudden’. This booklet mainly consists of detailed coloured photos of the site, each with a paragraph annotation. Access maps and a full bibliography are included.
Wiltshire
The Wiltshire Geology Group are publishing a series of guides and trails under the banner of EXPLORE THE LANDSCAPE. Five guides have been published so far and the first three listed may be purchased from this site. The last two listed here are not available for sale but can be downloaded (free) by visiting the NEW Wiltshire Geology Group. where you can also learn more about their organisation.
EXPLORE THE LANDSCAPE OF THE VALE OF WARDOUR
12pp, 11x24cm, 38 colour plates, 6 maps and figures. 2010. £1.95
Printed on glossy weather-resistant card and concertina-folded to make a 12 page pocket-sized pamphlet, this guide demonstrates how underlying rocks have influenced both the landscape and the character of the local villages. Carved into weaknesses produced by an elongated upfold, the Vale exposes older rocks within its core and is flanked by escarpments of chalk and greensand. To the north lies the abrupt transitions of the Mere fault.
EXPLORE THE LANDSCAPE AROUND BRADFORD-ON-AVON and AVONCLIFF Wiltshire Geology Group.
12pp, 11x24cm, 25 colour plates, 6 maps and figures. 2008. £1.95
Printed on glossy weather-resistant card and concertina-folded to make a 12 page pocket-sized pamphlet. This booklet makes an ideal landscape companion for a 4.5 miles (7km) walk which takes between 2 to 3 hours examining the relationship between the local landscape and the underlying rock, including the way that people have taken advantage of the local geology for building stones and water mills.
EXPLORE THE LANDSCAPE AROUND THE VALE OF PEWSEY
Wiltshire Geology Group.12pp 11x24cm, 26 colour plates, 8 maps and figures. 2008. £1.95
Printed on glossy weather-resistant card and concertina-folded to make a 12 page pocket-sized pamphlet. This landscape companion encompasses the Vale of Pewsey which runs for some 15 miles (24km) east of Devizes between Salisbury Plain and the Marlborough Downs. Clear maps make it easy to find sites mentioned in the text which concentrates on how the underlying rocks have affected the landscape and people.
EXPLORE THE LANDSCAPE AROUND WESTBURY WHITE HORSE Wiltshire Geology Group (2006)
8pp, 10x21cm, 9 colour plates, 2 maps and figures.
The chalk escarpment above Westbury's White Horse forms the northern edge of Salisbury Plain. In the spectacular panorama, you can see the effect of the different rock types on the landscape and the trail also explains how people have taken advantage of the geology. The Beggar's Knoll chalk pit (ST 890 507) has an information board beside the public footpath, overlooking it. The trail is 5 km (3.25 miles) and takes about two hours. This trail is not available for sale but can be downloaded (free) by visiting www.wiltshiregeologygroup.org.uk
EXPLORE THE LANDSCAPE AROUND THE UPPER BY BROOK VALLEY
Wiltshire Geology Group (2006)
8pp, 10X21cm, 13 colour plates, 3 maps and figures.
This trail shows how geology is intimately linked to the activities of the
people living here. The By Brook valley cuts deeply down into the water-bearing
Cotswold limestones, the source of the river. The fast-flowing waters have
been utilised for centuries. The same clear water needed for industrial
processes, was a source of power for fulling mills, often converted for
paper-making or for grinding corn into flour when the woollen industry fell
into decline. The rocks represent a variety of shallow marine sub-tropical
sea floor environments of the mid-Jurassic sea and fossils can be found
in the road-cutting at Giddeahall (ST 854 746). The trail is 6km (4 miles)
and takes about two hours. This trail is not available for sale but can
be downloaded (free) by visiting
www.wiltshiregeologygroup.org.uk