Dalton Coniston Bampton

Scope and Content

This notebook mainly comprises entries on geological field work which took place in the English Lake District, 1891. A contents page of localities visited is included at the front of the notebook; and there is a list of accommodation and owners on the back page. Comprising correlation chart which links the Stratigraphy with the various localities in the Lake District (pages 1-2); subdivision of the Stratigraphy (page 3); notes on conglomerates and breccias (page 4); pen and ink geological cross-section (pages 7-8); geological entries relating to the structural relations of breccia in the area (16th March); sketch of an intrusive rock and including the first instance in notebooks that Harker inserts a ‘hammer for scale’ (page 61); notes on the difficulties in drawing a line between the intrusion of Long Crag and the adjacent volcanic rocks (page 65); notes of rocks sent to A. Garwood for Silica percentages, samples labeled A-T, August 4th 1891 (page 108) and December 1891 (page 110); coloured geological sketch map (page 125); a sketch of North Berwick Law (trachyte) and accompanying notes; sketch dated August 9th relates to J. Goodchild’s work on the New Red Sandstone succession; a geological cross-section across the Pentland Hills and the Midlothian coalfield (page 126); and a sketch of the artificial talus slope below Salisbury Crags, Edinburgh (pages 135-136); localities of rocks collected (page 148); gummed label sheets (inside back pouch); used penny post stamp (inside back pouch); and a newspaper cutting concerning discussions about the fertility of earth and sediments (n.d) (inside back pouch).

Administrative / Biographical History

Harker visited Dalton-in-Furness where he was staying at the Wellington Hotel. On March 19th 1891, Harker visited the Coniston area and stayed at the “Crown Hotel”. On March 25th Harker was at Windermere. On the 28th of March he visited Bampton. He visited an old copper mine (p.82) on March 30th. Harker gives details of private lodgings and board with Wm. Kitchings, Sand Hill House, Haweswater [south of Penrith]. On March 31st he visited Buttermilk Crag, Aik Beck and on April 1st he revisited Bampton, Swindale and Shap. The entry for Aprril 3rd records working through deep snow about Bampton, but on the 5th, conditions were good enough to make observations on the volcanic rocks in that area.

The British Association excursion, to East Lothian and in Midlothian to the south of Edinburgh, took place on Aug. 6th 1892. The party left by rail from Waverley Station and travelled by rail to North Berwick and then by road to Tantallon Castle.

On August 7th 1892, Harker Seward and Yeo drove out to Roslyn. They stopped by the way at Burdiehouse. They then travelled on and looked at Roslyn Chapel. From there, they went down into Hawthornden, a sparsely wooded valley. The party of three walked on towards Penicuik and struck off by Mauricewood Colliery. From there they headed towards Carnethy. About the base of the hills Harker found many large boulders of a striking porphyritic rock with large flat feldspars. They decended to Logan Lee Reservoir, walked along the reservoir. Following up the Logan Burn they encountered Silurian rocks (shales and thin bands of flagstones). From there, they went on to Balerno and then drove to Edinburgh.

Harker travelled from Edinburgh across the Firth of Forth to Fife. A boat left at 1pm from Granton to Burntisland and returned at 6:25. Excursion to St. Monans and Elie. (DATES?).

Localities visited during the various excursions included: Shap, Stockdale, Kentmere, Troutbeck, Yewdale, Chuech Beck, Tower Beck, High Pike Haw, Waterblain, Millom Beck and Bootle. Geological units mentioned include the Coniston Limestone, breccia and rhyolite.

Localities recorded during the Lake district field seasons include: Dalton, Ireleth [S. of Kirkby-in-Furness], Poalea Beck, Coniston, Duddon Valley [Broughton], Weynose [Pass], Kirkstone Pass, Hawes Water, Aik Beck, and Upper Cordale.