[793] As there is not a conveyance from Farringdon to meet every train that stops at the station, the visitor who objects to a long walk should previously ascertain the time when the omnibus or coach does arrive, and select a train accordingly.
The town is situated in a valley, between Farringdon Hill, an eminence seen from a considerable distance in the approach from Oxford, and Badbury Hill (see [Lign. 269]). A small stream divides the town into two tithings, called Port and West-port, and flows into the Thames on the north. The summits of the highest eminences near Farringdon consist of beds of sand and gravel, resting on Coral Bag and Kimmeridge Clay, and belonging to the Cretaceous formation, being the littoral deposits in this area of some sea of that period. The Lower Green or Shanklin Sand, the Galt, Chalk-marl, and Chalk successively appear in the valley below Coxwell Furze up to the White Horse Downs.
EXCURSION TO FARRINGDON.
I have not observed any organic remains in the strata on the top of Farringdon and Badbury Hills, but from the pits in the low country numerous fossil sponges and other amorphozoa (see pp. 227-229) maybe obtained. One of the most productive "gravel-pits," as they are here termed, is situated on the road to Little Coxwell, about three quarters of a mile from Farringdon. It lies on the left of the road leading to the pretty village of Shrivenham. In this pit, the strata consist of a coarse aggregate of siliceous particles, with some lenticular masses in the state of compact conglomerate; the lower beds are of a whitish grey, the upper of a deep ferruginous colour. The Windmill public-house, close by, is kept by the owner of the pit (Panting), and specimens of the "petrified salt-cellars" (see [p. 228]) and other sponges may generally be obtained of the inmates; but the collector, in a few hours, will be able to gather an extensive and interesting collection; the pick-hammer, [Lign. 266], fig. 2, will be found the most convenient instrument. There are two other pits within a moderate distance of Panting s pit, which are also rich in fossils. The principal organic remains to be obtained from these beds are the zoophytes figured p. 227, and Wond. p. 637. The reader should recollect that the beautiful cup-shaped sponge, Chenendopora fungiformis ([Lign. 71]), is the "petrified salt-cellar" of the quarry-men. As many specimens as possible of the interesting coral, Verticellipora (p. 227, [Lign. 70, fig. 4],) should be procured, to examine the internal structure at leisure. The cup-shaped sponges should be collected uncleared, for they are often full of minute corals, shells, echinital spines, &c. There are also numerous specimens to be met with of Terebratulæ, Ostreæ, Nautili, and other shells; also rolled Belemnites from the Oolite, and bones of Plesiosauri and Ichthyosauri.
Lign. 269. Section of the strata at Farringdon, Berks; from Farringdon Hill to the Chalk Downs on the South.
The summits of Farringdon and Bradbury Hills, and Coxwell Furze, are formed of sands and gravels of the Cretaceous period. The lines on the Coralline Oolite are not intended to denote the dip of the strata.
Note:—See Memoirs on the Farringdon Sands, by Mr. R. A. C. Austen, in Quart. Geol. Journ. vol. vi. and by Mr. D. Sharpe, ibid. vol. x.
Fossils of the Coralline Oolite.—At a short distance from the town there is a large quarry of Coral-rag, called Lamb-close-pit, from which Cidarites ([p. 316]) and spines, and several species of corals and shells may be procured. Occasionally Ammonites and Belemnites are met with in the limestone at this place.
Stanford pit, about three miles south-east of Farringdon, is well worthy of a visit; it consists of the following strata:—