Weekend excursion to The Mendips (Somerset),

23rd – 25th June 2006

The main itinerary of our annual weekend excursion took place over the Saturday and Sunday, but with the Excursion Director Andrew Swift being in Somerset already, it was possible for a few early birds to enjoy an extra locality on the Friday afternoon. This was Bowden’s Lane Quarry near Langport, where there was a most interesting and unusual sequence of White and Blue Lias (uppermost Triassic Langport Member and uppermost Triassic and Early Jurassic Lias Group) – and lots and lots of fossils. We got an early taste of the very warm weather which was to characterise the weekend during the afternoon. On the Friday evening the party met up formally at the City Arms in Wells, that distinctive small city where we were based. The small but select party of 13 heard a brief introductory talk, but possibly enjoyed the company and ambience (and beverages) of the City Arms rather more.

On Saturday morning we assembled at our first locality, Holwell (Coleman’s) Quarry, near Frome, at 10.30. This very large quarry complex exploits Carboniferous Limestone for aggregate, but the interest for geologists lies largely in the many fissures, filled with loosely consolidated sediments ranging from Triassic to Jurassic in age, and the unconformity surface between the Carboniferous Limestone and Inferior Oolite of Middle Jurassic age, which takes the form of a peneplained sea floor, complete with oysters still in position and the borings of other bivalves, some of which are also still in situ in their burrows. The Excursion Director gave us the geological background of the quarry and we were then led on a tour of the different features, where we were free to collect some very fine mineral specimens, including some spectacular dog-tooth spar. It was a hot day so the spray of the dust-control sprinklers was a pleasant if erratic feature. On leaving the quarry, we enjoyed a most pleasant and excellent buffet lunch, laid on especially for us, in the Bear Inn, which is conveniently placed adjacent to the quarry entrance.

In the depths of Holwell (Coleman’s) Quarry looking for minerals in the fissure fills. (photo Joanne Norris)

The party in Holwell (Coleman’s) Quarry. L to R: Dennis Gamble, Helen Jones, Joe Sowerby, John Dickinson, Alan Dearden, Andrew Swift, Joanne Norris, Peter Long, Dorothy Sowerby, Carolyn Evans, Ellie Coale, Mark Evans (photo Ann Dickinson)

Enjoying the buffet lunch in the Bear Inn, with canine friend (photo Andrew Swift)

In the pleasant shade of Milton Lane, Wells (photo Joanne Norris)

Dolomitic Conglomerate (Triassic) in a wall in Wells (photo Andrew Swift)

At the De La Beche Unconformity in Vallis Vale (photo Joanne Norris)

It was hoped that a quarry near Bishops Sutton would be visited next, but unfortunately at a late stage we were unable to secure permission to enter. However, it soon became apparent that if we had made that stop, we would have been very pushed for time later, so it was as well it had to be dropped from the itinerary. Instead we headed straight for Milton Lane in Wells, a picturesque lane where the junction between the Triassic and Jurassic in close proximity to the Mesozoic Mendip ‘island’ could be observed. The weather was very warm by that stage, so the cool shade in the lane was appreciated. Some fine specimens of Modiolus langportensis were collected from loose blocks of Langport Member. The rest of the afternoon was spent at leisure in Wells exploring the Cathedral and its environs, while the Director explained something of the building stones of the city. In the evening we gathered again at the City Arms and enjoyed the customary Section C meal where both the food and the company were excellent. A vote of thanks was given by Section C Chairman Mr Mark Evans to the Excursion Director, who was flattered to be presented with a copy of ‘The Centenary Book of the Leicester Literary & Philosophical Society’ from the 1930’s. Andrew replied by offering a toast to Section C.

Sunday found us at Vallis Vale, Hapsford, near Frome, a classic area in British geology. One of the particular features in the Vale is the De La Beche unconformity between the Carboniferous Limestone and the Inferior Oolite, exposed in an old quarry. An unexpected hazard at that locality was the presence of some local youngsters, camping beneath the face. The party walked on through the lovely vale to Tedbury Camp, an abandoned limestone quarry, where again the uncomformity was seen and fossils could be freely collected.

The official excursion closed at approximately 12:15 pm, with the usual regrets at parting and expressions of pleasure and gratitude after a splendid excursion.

Andrew Swift and Helen Jones