BOREHOLES AND GEOLOGICAL EXPOSURES IN WEST HAM 229
Tills around Harlow and Chelmsford (Clayton, 1957). The free-
dom from glacial drift of the Epping ridge is of note, it has been
thought that this was a feature of the isolated hill systems of
central Essex but glacial clay has been noted on the southern side
of the Billericay ridge in recent years and also in Woodford to
the south of the Epping Forest Ridge (K. Marshall, personal com-
munication).
River terraces in the upper Roding valley have already been
recorded but the small terrace features in the tributary valley
north of Priory Hill have previously gone unremarked.
Traverses as large as this are of great value in determining the
nature of surface geological features and in providing accurate
information as to the location of geological boundaries. The staff
of the Passmore Edwards Museum will always attempt the record-
ing of such temporary sections and any information about works,
either projected or under way, will be gratefully received.
References
Dines, H. G. and Edmunds, F. H. (1925). The Geology of the Country
around Romford. Geological Survey Memoir, Southampton.
Clayton, K. M. (1957). Aspects of the Glacial Deposits of Essex. Proc.
Geologists Assoc, 68.
Some Notes on Boreholes and Geological
Exposures in West Ham
By Kenneth Marshall
The development of tall building blocks and the considerable
road improvement works in High Street E. 15, along with other
minor works, have provided a number of sections into the geo-
logical deposits underlying West Ham. In an area so built up as
East London it is only possible to obtain geological information by
this means. Much of the earlier boring noted on the six inches
to the mile geological survey of the London area was derived from
borings for water. As a result areas of housing development have
previously provided little borehole information since water ex-
ploration was usually limited to the premises of large companies
and public undertakings. Now the need to make test bores to
the piling depth on the sites of blocks of flats has begun to fill the
gaps in geological knowledge and to harden the tentative outlines
given to the solid formations buried below the mantle of glacial
drift.
1. 293-325 High Street, E. 15. TQ 3857 8386. 4-6th July, 1963,
by the Cementation Co. Ltd. Shell and auger bore 8" diameter.
Water at 21', standing water 18'.