Quaternary of South-West England, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1998 Geological Conservation Review Series

STRUCTURE OF THE VOLUME AND TERMINOLOGY USED This book contains scientific descriptions of 63 localities (Figure A) of at least national importance for Quaternary geology, geomorphology and environmental change in South-West England. These sites were selected by the Geological Conservation Review and are accordingly designated 'GCR' sites. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the Quaternary. Chapter 2 synthesizes the geomorphological development and Quaternary history of the region, and outlines the principles involved in site selection. The individual GCR site descriptions form the core of the book. In the following chapters, sites are arranged and described in broad geographic areas and by research topic. This is necessitated by the widely disparate nature of the field evidence in Soutb­ West England: sites demonstrating the full range of Quaternary and geomorphological features are not evenly and conveniently dispersed throughout the region, and some areas have significant gaps. Neither do the individual chapters contain sites that neces­ sarily equate with particular site selection networks. Rather, the chosen chapter headings provide the least repetitive means of describing the sites and background material. Where possible, a chronological approach, from oldest to youngest, has been used to describe sites within a given chapter. Again, this approach is not always possi­ ble, and a group of sites may show variations on landform or Stratigraphie evidence broadly within one major time interval or chronostratigraphic stage; inevitably there are many overlaps.

1 Introduction to the Quaternary.- The character of the Quaternary.- Climate change in the Quaternary.- The deep-sea record.- Subdividing the Quaternary.- The history of the ice ages.- British Quaternary environments.- The challenge for Quaternary science.- 2 The geomorphological evolution and Quaternary history of South-West England: a rationale for the selection and conservation of sites.- The principles and methodology of the Geological Conservation Review.- Site selection guidelines and site networks.- The geomorphological and Quaternary evolution of South-West England: a synthesis S. Campbell.- The pre-Quaternary inheritance.- Quaternary events priot to the Devensian Stage.- The Devensian Stage.- The Devensian late-glacial and Holocene.- 3 Pre-Quaternary and long-term landscape evolution.- The pre-Quaternary inheritance.- Beer Quarry.- St Agnes Beacon.- 4 Granite landscapes.- Granite landforms and weathering products.- Merrivale.- Believer Quarry.- Two Bridges Quarry.- Devensian late-glacial and Holocene environmental history.- Hawks Tor.- Dozmary Pool.- Blacklane Brook.- Black Ridge Brook.- 5 Pleistocene cave sequences.- Kent’s Cavern.- Tornewton Cave.- Chudleigh Caves.- Joint Mitnor Cave.- 6 The Quaternary history of the Dorset, south Devon and Cornish coasts.- Portland Bill.- Hope’s Nose and Thatcher Rock.- Start Point to Prawle Point.- Pendower.- Porthieven.- Boscawen.- Porth Nanven.- Godrevy.- Trebetherick Point.- 7 The Quaternary history of north Devon and west Somerset.- Brannam’s Clay Pit.- Fremington Quay.- The Croyde-Saunton Coast.- Westward Ho!.- The Valley of Rocks.- Doniford.- The Chains.- 8 The Quaternary history of the Isles of Scilly.- Porthloo, St Mary’s.- Watermill Cove, St Mary’s.- Old Man, Gugh, St Agnes.- Peninnis Head, St Mary’s.-Porth Seal, St Martin’s.- Bread and Cheese Cove, St Martin’s.- Chad Girt, White Island, St Martin’s.- Northward Bight, St Martin’s.- Battery (Castle Down), Tresco.- Castle Porth, Tresco.- Higher Moors, St Mary’s.- 9 The Quaternary history of the Somerset lowland, Mendip Hills and adjacent areas.- (A) Sites relating to the extra-glacial development of the Somerset lowland and adjacent areas.- Langport Railway Cutting.- Greylake (No. 2 Quarry).- Hurcott Farm.- Portfield.- Low Ham.- Broom Gravel Pits.- (B) Colluvial and fan-gravel sites in Mendip and adjacent areas.- Middle Hope.- Brean Down.- Bourne.- Wookey Station.- 10 The Quaternary history of the Avon Valley and Bristol district.- (A) Glaciation of the Bristol district.- Court Hill.- Bath University.- Nightingale Valley.- Bleadon Hill.- Kennpier.- Yew Tree Farm.- Kenn Church.- Weston-in-Gordano.- (B) River terraces and landscape development.- Ham Green.- Newton St Loe.- Stidham Farm.- Hampton Rocks Cutting.- Holly Lane.- References.