THE EAST ANGLIAN. APRIL, 1866. NOTES. THE GEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF EAST ANGLIA. May I ask you to insert the accompanying extract from Campbell's recently published Frost and Fire, vol. 1, pp. 216-219; and then request your readers to contribute all the facts they can to support or combat the theory therein advanced, or otherwise to illustrate the geological history of East Anglia. I am led to this by a recent ramble along the coast between Yarmouth and Harwich, and inland towards Sudbury and Newmarket, and observing, in different localities, huge blocks of stone that look as if they never could be moved from their places; such places being the most unlikely in the world in which to find such stones. I could get no explanation either from the labourers or the gentlemen of the neighbourhood, or even any tradition as to how or why they were there. As there may be many such stones in the district, it will be interesting to the geological student to know their precise locality, form, and material.-TYRO. According to the Baltic Current theory, the blocking up of a northern strait by a rise of land was the first step in a gradual change which is still in progress, for the last Norwegian glaciers are now dwindling away. Rivers of all dimensions have deltas; ocean-streams, especially when laden with ice, ought also to build submarine deltas; the Banks of Newfoundland, about lat. 50o, seem to represent the "northern glacial drift" of the present day: if so, Denmark, the Dogger Bank, and the drift districts of Eastern England, may be parts of the submarine delta of the Baltic Current. The direction of striæ, shells, and the nature of the drift on shore, are the only guides. The same high authority who states the order of superficial deposits in Denmark also describes the Eastern coast of England (chap. xii, Antiquity of Man). The "series of documents" which lie next below the glacial drift in Norfolk and Suffolk reads thus, according to Sir Charles Lyell's translation of the rocks : "The fossil-shells of the deposits in question clearly point to a gradual refrigeration of climate from a temperature somewhat warmer than that now prevailing in our latitudes, to one of intense cold." According to the Baltic Current theory, the opening of a northern strait, by the sinking of land, let in the cold climate, which is now transferred to Labrador, by the close of the strait. The English documents, as read by Lyell, record many successive changes in the relative level of the sea and land in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. Forest-land has sunk, for beds of shells are spread above the upright stumps of fir-trees identical in species with firs now growing; the sea-bottom has risen, for trees now grow above the shells, and men spread shell-marl in the fields, on the top of the English cliffs. Through these old buried English fir-woods, elephants, rhinoceroses, and other big brutes roamed; whales, nar-whals, and sea-horses swam over the same spot when it sank; and then came an ice-chapter, which the best of modern geologists thus translates:— "Erratics of Scandinavian origin occur chiefly in the lower portions of the till. I came to the conclusion in 1834 that they had really come from Norway and Sweden, after having in that year traced the course of a continuous stream of such blocks from those countries to Denmark, and across the Elbe, through Westphalia, to the borders of Holland. It is not surprising that they should then reappear on the eastern coast between the Tweed and the Thames, regions not half so remote from parts of Norway as are many Russian erratics from the sources whence they came."-Antiquity of Man, p. 218. The Baltic Current theory is thus propped up by a strong buttress of facts, stated by a great authority to prove something else. The northern strait, which is supposed to be the source of change in English climate, is at the head of the Baltic. When land was sunk in England and in Denmark, a cold sea carried boulders from Scandinavia to England, but when the land rose higher, the transport of Scandinavian stones was stopped, and soon after that clause in the ice-chapter was recorded in the till, the glacial period began gradually to pass from Europe. It is argued that it went to America. Sir Charles himself suggests, that the "glacial period" may be nothing but a transfer of existing climates, by causes now active, but other causes than a Baltic Current. One more fact may be taken from this storehouse. At the end of the glacial period, eastern British drift came, not from Scandinavia, but apparently from the north of England. Sir C. Lyell says-"Patches of the northern drift, at about 200 feet above the Thames, occur in the neighbourhood of London, as at Muswell Hill near Highgate. In this drift, blocks of granite, syenite, greenstone, coal-measure, sandstone with its fossils, and other paleozoic rocks, and the wreck of chalk and oolite, occur confusedly mixed together. The same glacial formation is also found capping some of the Essex hills further to the east, and extending some way down their southern slopes towards the valley of the Thames."-Antiquity of Man, p. 160. Many of these fragments are not Scandinavian, and may be of native growth, and the deposition of this drift is supposed to have taken place at a time when nearly the whole of the low grounds of England were at least 200 feet under the sea. According to theory, Scandinavian drift gave place to English drift when the stream and the local tides changed their direction, after the way from the polar basin to Muswell Hill was blocked by Lapland, now 1200 feet higher, which rose and sent the cold westward, to the place where the glacial period has now perched, to feed on rocks in Greenland. Passing S.W. from Norwich, glacial drift is said to be found near the railway between Gloucester and Bristol, and that line leads to Devonshire. BRASS AT PAKEFIELD, SUFFOLK (VOL. II, P. 321.) I should read this brass thus: We shall all (go) hence: Whither or when No man may know, But God above. We care for other (things); Hence shall we fare All poor and bare, Thus says John Bowf. WALTER RYE. MONUMENTAL HERALDRY OF YARMOUTH, &c.—NO. 4 (VOL. II, p. 309). 12. As No. 9, impaling chequy Ar. and Gu., on a bend Sa. three martlets Ar. 13. As No. 9. 14. Ar., an eagle displayed Sa. 15 and 16. Quarterly, France (ancient) and England. 17. Vert, three mitres Or. 18. Gu., a cross moline Ar. 19. Or, a cross moline Ar. 20. The upper part England, and the lower Az., three fishes (?) Ar. 21. Or, a lion rampant Az. 22. Howard sine augmentation. 23. Paston. 24. As No. 7, in the south window. 25. Ar. three cinquefoils Gu. 26. A chevron ermine between three escallop shells Ar. Over the south porch are the arms of England and France (ancient) singly. At the west end of the churchyard is an altar tomb to Thomas Hurst, died 7th April, 1811. Also Samuel Hurst, gent., died 3rd March, 1823. An estoile of 16 points. Crest, a hurst (or grove) of trees ppr. Also one to William Danby Palmer, Esq., died 14th September, 1834. Near to it another to William Danby Palmer, died November, 4th, 1788. And on the south side of the churchyard is a similar monument to another member of this family. They all bear the same arms:-Or, 2 bars Gu., each charged with three trefoils of the field, in chief a lion passant ppr.. Crest, a demi-panther rampant, flames issuing out of its mouth and ears, holding in his paws a holly branch, with leaves and berries ppr. This family, of Great Yarmouth, co. Norfolk, is derived from William Palmer, b. 1672, and now represented by William Danby Palmer, Esq., Lord of the Manor of Loddon, Norfolk, and nephew of John Danby Palmer, Esq., Mayor of Yarmouth in 1821. GORLESTON. In the middle isle is a slab to the memory of Mr. Henry Martin, ob. 6th May, 1775, and several members of his family. On a bend cottised three cinquefoils. Crest, out of a coronet an eagle's head In the south aisle, a slab to the Worthington family. Crest, a castle ppr. On the south wall is a brass to a knight of the De Bacon family, c. 1310, the fortunate restoration of which to this church by Dr Brown, the then Rector (who saw it in a shop in London) is well known. On the knight's shield are these arms:-A bend lozengy, in chief two mullets. Near to the communion rails is a slab, partly hidden, to Ambrose.... Three bars (or barry of six) an eagle displayed. Near to this is another slab, also partly hidden, excepting the top, showing the crest, a tiger statant, but I could just distinguish something like a pale, and a bend charged with mullets (?) In the south wall, near to the De Bacon brass, is a sepulchral recess, which had been blocked up until a few years since, when a gentleman who was lodging on the Cliff, seeing its condition, went to Yarmouth, and procuring the necessary tools, and arraying himself in a workman's apron set himself in good earnest to work (pro amore archæologia) to clear away the rubbish, and was rewarded for his pains by discovering some fragments of mural paintings, shields with the emblems of the Crucifixion, Trinity, &c. At the western entrance of the church is the font, which was once highly gilded and ornamented with figures in the compartments, but now mutilated. BRADWELL. On the north wall of the chancel is a monument, greatly mutilated, with the figure of the deceased, his two wives and family. On the slab forming the front of the desk, at which his wives are kneeling, and which is only a fragment, is the following inscription :-Gulielmi Vessye hac villa armigeri, died 1644 (?) Erm., on a cross Sa., five martlets Or. Burke, in his General Armoury, assigns these arms to the family of Vessey, of Pondhall, co. Essex; Beddingham, co. Norfolk; Chimney, cos. Oxford, and Suffolk. On the south side of the churchyard is a slab to the memory of John Cross, who died April 14th, 1813, and adjoining is another slab to the memory of Judith his wife, who died February 2nd, 18.... On both are these arms :-Quarterly, indented, in the first quarter a lion rampant. Crest, a lion's head erased. Motto, Foy pour devoir. This church has a round tower, a peculiarity only noticeable in this part of the kingdom. The font is ornamented with shields, bearing the emblems of the passion, &c. BELTON. On the south wall of the chancel is a tablet to David Urquhart, of Hobland Hall, Esq., obiit 27th June, 1774. Quarterly, 1 and 4, Or, three boars' heads couped Gu., armed and langued Az., within a bordure Gu. and Sa. 2 and 3, party per fesse indented Erm. and Az. Crest, a boar's head as in the arms. Motto, Per actuam indentio. On the north wall of the chancel is a tablet to Margaret Le Greys, of Browston Hall, who died June 19th, 1788. Above it is a hatchment, bearing quarterly, Gu. and Az., on a bend Ar. three boars passant Sa. On the floor underneath, are three early coped tombs, with crosses upon them, and near to them is the upper part of the old font, which I judge to be of late Norman work. On the wall of the north aisle are tablets to John Ives,* Esq., who died 9th January, 1776. Also one to John Ives, ob. March 19th, 1793, and Mary his second wife. Upon both these monuments are the same arms :—Ar. a chevron Sa., between three moors' heads couped ppr. Crest, a bear statant Sa. collared and chained Or. Motto, Moribus antiquis In the middle aisle is a slab to Francis Morse, Esq., and his wife Margaret, sans date. Party per pale a chevron between three mullets pierced, a demi (?) figure in mail, grasping a battle axe. Motto, Pro patria. Near to it is another slab to Nathaniel Symonds, Esq., who departed this life May 3rd, 1734. Same arms as Symonds of Yarmouth. On the wall of the north aisle are fragments of paintings representing St. Christopher walking through the sea, fishes swimming round him. The lower part of the figure is only discernable, the upper being covered by another painting of larger extent. On the left side is seen crowned figures on horseback, in the centre a cross, and on the left side several indistinct figures. This, I think, was intended to represent the offerings of the Magi to our Saviour. This church also has a round tower. *He was a young and accomplished antiquary. BURGH. Within the communion rails are two slabs, one to Gulielmi Greenwood, arm. 1656; and the other containing a long Latin inscription to Thomas Greenwood, 1677. On both are these arms :-(Sa.) a chevron Ermine, between three saltires (Ar). Crest, a lion sejant (Sa.), holding a saltire (Ar.) The colours are supplied from Burke's General Armoury, who assigns the same arms to Greenwood, of Burgh Castle, Suffolk. In the chancel are slabs to 1, Rev. John Pitcairne, A.M., Rector of this place, and Vicar of Belton, died 5th November, 1753; and Catherine his wife, ob. 26th November, 1766. Three mascles, impaling Ar. (?) on a chief Ermine, three lions rampant. Crest, the sun in splendour ppr. Motto, Spes lucis æternæ. 2, John the first born of Anthony and Judeth Ellys, lived ten months, died the 1st of August, 1688. The letters on this slab are very large and deeply cut. 3, M. S. Georgij Grosvenor Generosi, obijt 70 die Decembris, Anno Domini, 1738. A garb ppr., on the dexter side a crescent, on a canton, a .... On the north wall of the chancel is a marble tablet to William Fisher, Esq., who departed this life 30th July, 1835. Gu., three demi-lions rampant, a chief Ar. Crest, an eagle displayed. The font is ornamented with shields bearing the emblems of the crucifixion, &c., and one is charged with 3 (2 and 1) crowns. This church also has a round tower. WORDS USED IN SUFFOLK. JUSTIN SIMPSON. I shall be much obliged if any of your readers will assist me by naming the district in Suffolk where any of the following words are used :— 1. Scoot, an awkward corner of ground. 4. Taint, large knob on trees 5. Feather-pie, a device to frighten 6. Pane, a piece of weeding done. 9. To sils, or strain milk through a sieve. 10. Loppered, or sour milk. 11. A guesting, or barking spaniel. 12. A sholt, or cur. 13. The grissens, stairs. 14. Ague, or swelling in face. 15. Amper, or inflamed swelling. 16. Never moise again, never get well. 17. Nation cothy, very ill. 19. Blacksap, jaundice. 22. Sotter, to simmer. 23. To ranter, sew up a patch invisibly. 26. Twinny, a cask of beer; taste it 27. Stithy, a blacksmith's shop, and 28. Chovee, beetle. 31. Jilly-hooter, owl. 32. Hunch weather, cold. 34. Month's-mind, desire. 35. Ampersand, or anpasty, the sign &. 36. Trickling bowls in the game. 37. Wheelspurs, next to the ruts in a road. 38. Raffling, idle, lad. 39. Quavery-mavery, hesitating how to act. 40. So wet the partridges cannot tappis, lie close to ground. W. H. S. |