96 SUBSIDENCE OF EASTERN ENGLAND.
editor or myself. It maybe, also, that in some future systematic
exploration of more definite sites, other examples will be brought
to light. In the meantime, it will be wiser to suspend judgment
and to place these objects as a division of that large class of relics
designated "Bone objects of unknown use and of uncertain
date."
SUBSIDENCE OF EASTERN ENGLAND AND
ADJACENT AREAS,
By W. H. DALTON, F.G.S., F.C.S., late of H.M. Geological Survey,
WITH REMARKS ON THE LEVELS OF THE ESSEX
COAST
By HENRY LAVER, M.R.C.S., F.L.S., F.S.A.,
AND ON THE LEVELS OF THE LINCOLNSHIRE COAST
By S. HAZZLEDINE WARREN, F.G.S.
[Read 30th January 1909.]
THE general opinion amongst the older inhabitants of our
Essex shores, that subsidence is manifested by the tides
reaching higher points in the estuaries and lateral creeks than
they used to do in earlier years, is too vague to permit of any esti-
mate of the rate of that subsidence. The only approach to such
an estimate was published in a short summary I read to the
Colchester Natural History Society in 1876, and sent in
condensed form to the Geological Magazine.* This was that
certain piles near Steeple, marking high-water level about 60
years previously, were covered about 18 inches deep at most
tides. This information (received through Dr. Laver) is
defective by its vagueness, as the variation from neap to spring-
tide high-water level is much greater than the reported change,
and even the effect of winds in raising or lowering the water in
our narrow seas exceeds two feet. Assuming, however, that the
ancient fishermen who alleged the difference made due allow-
ance, in their generalised statement, for these periodical and
casual variations, we have 30 inches as the depression per century.
The other evidence advanced in 1876 is of even less definite
nature as to rate, though conclusive as to direction of
*Geol. Mag. dec. ii., vol. iii., pp. 491—493.