95
during the most extensive glaciation experienced in Britain Coarser sediments would be
expected. Their fine nature would be in keeping with deposition as sand waves during the
higher sea-level, when the area would have been an estuary. Subsequently cold conditions
returned (OIS 10) and the Southchurch/Asheldham/Mersea Island/Wigborough Gravel was
deposited as downstream equivalents of the Orsett Heath Member (Upper Gravel). Thus
Bridgland extends the sequence over a much longer time scale than Gibbard et al.
Fig. 5a. Palaeogeography of the late Anglian Thames on the Dengie Peninsula (A).
(After Gibbard et al., 19%)
A - Asheldham B - Bradwell T - Tillingham
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 16 (1999)