Quaternary of South-West England

Abstract

This volume describes in detail the most important Quaternary sites in South-West England, some of which have been the subject of scientific research for over 150 years. In describing the geomorphological heritage of these sites, this volume offers a remarkable account of how the natural environment responded, in terms of landforms, deposits and processes, and animal, plant and human communities, to the profound climatic fluctuations that have characterized the Quaternary - approximately the last two million years of geological time. The clear, concise descriptions of the 63 nationally important GCR sites in this volume document a fascinating history of intense landscape and environmental changes within a relatively small area. how these landscapes came into being, the forces that shaped them, and the climatic extremes which drove these changes are some of the themes explored. This fully-illustrated volume provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive scientific text on the Quaternary history of South-West England, and its 1,300 cited references form the most complete bibliography on this subject. This book will appeal to everyone with an interest in Quaternary history, and it will be an indispensable reference tool for students and lecturers, as well as for environmental agencies, conservation consultants and government planning authorities. 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.