Hull Geological Society
April 6th 1889. Hull Geol Soc. Excursion to
Driffield. Old Report.
On April 6th [1889] the members of the
Society made an excursion to Driffield to inspect the museum of Mr J.R. Mortimer
which contains a splendid and unique collection of fossils from the chalk of
Yorkshire. Before examining the cases, an address was given by the Rev E. Maul
Cole M.A. FG.S, one of the Presidents of the Society – on the Cretaceous rocks
of Yorkshire. Mr Mortimer meanwhile pointing to the locations mentioned on his
ordnance survey 6in to the mile. After describing the physical features, the
lecturer carefully sketched the order of the beds, & the localities where they
may be studied. The following is a brief summary – the Chalk of Yorkshire
extends from Flambro Head westward towards Melton, then southwards to Hessle. It
underlies the whole of the plain of Holderness, which is covered effectively by
boulder clay & drift. The white chalk without flint extends southwest
from the south landing at Flambro in a narrow band to Sewerby, thence by Burton
Agnes, and Kilham to Wetwang. The middle chalk with flints constitutes
the high ground of the wolds to the south and west. The lower chalk without
flints consisting of grey chalk & chalk marl, is divided from the middle of
black chalk, decidedly carbonaceous from 1 ft to 3 ft thick, which may be seen
at the Speeton Cliffs, at Goodmanham, Drewton & Melton. At the base of the lower
chalk occurs the Red chalk [illegible 2 words]. It forms a conspicuous feature
in the cliffs & on the shore at Speeton and may be traced on the outer margin of
the wolds. Chalk throughout reaching its highest elevation (500 ft) above the
level of the sea at Acklam Brow. The line of the chalk is also the line of
springs, the chalk resting on various beds of compacted clay. After inspecting
the superb collection of chalk fossils, the part turned their attention to the
archaeological department of the museum which is probably the finest and largest
collection from the locality in existence, including as it does the relics of
300 burial tumuli & 200 Anglo Saxon graves – with numerous weapons and armaments
of bronze and literally thousands of flint and other weapons of all
descriptions, gathered from the surface of the wolds.
[Transcriber’s Note –
this is the original version with its original spellings]
[Transcribed by Mike Horne, September 2026]
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