Quaternary of the Thames

Contents

Title page and preliminaries

Contributors

Acknowledgements

Access to the countryside

Preface

1 The Pleistocene of the Thames

The Quaternary record of the River Thames

The Thames terrace system

The diversion of the Thames

The continuation of the Thames into Essex

Classification of Thames terraces and deposits

The stratigraphical framework: Pleistocene chronostratigraphy and correlation

Terrace formation

The stratigraphy of the Thames sequence

Evidence from Palaeolithic artefacts in Thames deposits

Correlation of Thames terraces

2 The Upper Thames basin

The Pleistocene sequence in the Upper Thames

Sugworth Road Cutting

Long Hanborough Gravel Pit

The Wolvercote Gravel and Wolvercote Channel Deposits

Stanton Harcourt Gravel Pit and Magdalen Grove Deer Park

3 The Middle Thames

Introduction

Part 1 — Pliocene/Lower Pleistocene deposits in the London Basin

Little Heath

Harrow Weald Common

Priest's Hill, Nettlebed

Part 2 — Pre-diversion deposits in the Middle Thames basin and the Vale of St Albans

The Vale of St Albans Thames and its demise

Chalfont St Giles Brick Pit and Furneux Pelham Gravel Pit

Westwood Quarry

Westmill Quarry

Moor Mill Quarry

Ugley Park Quarry

Part 3 — The sequence post-dating the diversion of the Thames (sites in the Middle Thames and its tributary, the Kennet)

Highlands Farm Pit

Hamstead Marshall Gravel Pit

Cannoncourt Farm Pit

Fern House Gravel Pit

Brimpton Gravel Pit

4 The Lower Thames

Research history

Hornchurch Railway Cutting

Wansunt Pit, Dartford Heath

Swanscombe (Barnfield Pit — Skull Site NNR and Alkerden Lane Allotments SSSI)

Purfleet — Bluelands, Greenlands, Esso and Botany Pits

Globe Pit, Little Thurrock

Lion Pit Tramway Cutting (West Thurrock)

Aveley, Sandy Lane Quarry

Northfleet (Ebbsfleet valley): Baker's Hole Complex

5 Essex

Introduction

Part 1 — The Kesgrave Sands and Gravels

Newney Green Quarry

Ardleigh (Martells Quarry)

Little Oakley

Wivenhoe Gravel Pit

St Osyth Gravel Pit and Holland-on-Sea Cliff

Part 2 — Eastern Essex

Clacton (cliffs, foreshore and golf course)

Cudmore Grove (East Mersea cliffs and foreshore)

Southminster, Goldsands Road Pit

Part 3 — Deposits of local rivers

Maldon Railway Cutting

East Mersea (Restaurant Site and Hippopotamus Site)

Great Totham (Lofts Farm Pit)

References

Index

Figures and tables

Tables