226 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
3O'Brien, Henry (1834). The Round Towers of Ireland. (Buddhist
minaret: Phallic symbol.)
4de Poer, Maire & Liam (1958). Early Christian Ireland. (Belfry, possibly
refuge.)
5Wise, T. A. (1884). History of Paganism in Caledonia. (Druids' and
Eastern Buddhism, carried by the Phoenicians.)
6Zernos, C. (1954). La Sardegne dans l'era Eneolithique, etc. (Fighting
Strongholds.)
7Lethbridge, T. C. (1954). The Painted Men (Pictish Brochs). (Defence.)
8Meynell, Esther. Passim. (13th cent. belfries.)
9Petrie, George (1833). Round Towers (Paper to Royal Irish Academy of
Dublin). (Belfry and Refuge.)
10Cautley, Munro (1937). Suffolk Churches, and their Treasures. (De-
fence and Refuge "without a doubt".)
11Macalister, R. A. S. (1935). Ancient Ireland. (First belfry then
defence.)
Other References of interest are:
Greenwood, G. B. Round Towers in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. Essex
Review, 46: 162.
Hudson, E. W. Round Towers of Great Britain. R.I.B.A. Jul, series V,
p. 284.
Morley, C. Circular Towers. Proc. Suff. Inst. Arch., 18: 144.
Woodward & Gage. Round Towers of Norfolk and Suffolk. Archaeologia,
23: 7, 10.
Some Observations of the Superficial Geology of
an Area of Western Essex
By Raymond E. Chaplin
(Passmore Edwards Museum, London, E.15)
The writer was able, during 1963, to examine the course of
the Esso gas pipeline trench across the Epping, Theydon and
Abridge areas. The trench, approximately six feet deep, was
examined for geological and archaeological features between the
river Roding at T.Q. 488977 and the summit of the Epping Forest
Ridge near the Bell Inn at T.L. 448016. The course of the trench
is shown on the sketch map (Fig. 1). A profile of the transect
with associated deposits is shown in Fig. 2; this was prepared
from the O.S. 1/25000 map of the area. All heights quoted in this
paper are approximate, being solely derived from map contours.
Description of transect
The present course of the river Roding above Abridge lies
between the 100 foot contours and the valley is about 700 yards
across. Its floor consists of a flat flood plain into which the river
is incised. The material of the flood plain comprises about three
feet of dark alluvial clay overlying river gravel. Towards the edge