Excursion to Hampstead. June 16th, 1877 - Geologists' Association excursion

From: A record of excursions made between 1860 and 1890. Edited by Thomas Vincent Holmes , F.G.S. and C. Davies Sherborn, F.G.S. London: Edward Stanford [For the Geologists’ Association], 1891. Source: Cornell University copy on the Internet Archive (Public domain work)

[The next excursion to Hampstead took place on June 22nd, 1874, Caleb Evans again being Director. There is a very brief report of it in Proc. vol. iv. p. 155. Mr. Evans also conducted another party of the Association to Hampstead on June 16th, 1877, from the report of which the following details are taken. (Proc. vol. v. p. 160.)]

The absence of any clear sections of the Lower Bagshot Sand or of the London Clay obliged the party to confine their attention chiefly to the geological structure of the surrounding district, and having proceeded to the top of the hill by the flagstaff; the positions were pointed out of Harrow-on-the-Hill with its small outliers of Bagshot Sand, of the high ridges above Stanmore, Elstree, Highwood Hill and Mill Hill capped with patches of Pebble-gravel of doubtful age, and of the intervening district around Hendon and Finchley, on which Glacial deposits yet remain. From the neighbourhood of North End the difference was noted between the prospect to the northward, where the district occupied by the Glacial deposits presents the appearance of a wide and level plateau as far as the eye can reach, and the view to the northwest of Hampstead, where the country is composed of London Clay with small cappings of sand or gravel; and is more diversified by detached hills and intervening valleys. In the immediate neighbourhood of the heath the diverging valleys occupied by the Hampstead and Highgate ponds, forming the headwaters of the Fleet river, were noticed, as probably resulting from the outflow of springs at the junction of the London Clay with the Bagshot Sands. Examples of these springs were well seen at the Vale of Health and at Well Walk, and after tasting the chalybeate water at the latter spot, the party proceeded to the residence of the Mr. Evans, and examined his collection of Tertiary fossils, many of which were obtained by him in the neighbourhood of Hampstead.

[An excursion to the Brent Valley and Hampstead took place on May 7th, 1887, J. Logan Lobley being Director. An account of it may be read in the Proceedings, vol. x. p. 148. In the same part may also be seen the report of an excursion to The Mount, Ealing, and Horsington Hill, on June 18th, 1887, J. Allen Brown, Director.]