|
|
|
Geology. Clevedon stands at the western end of the 'Failand Ridge'
an interesting formation which consists mainly of 'Mountain Limestone' The range
is forked at East Clevedon, the two branches although geologically continuous
are here divided by the cleft which gives Clevedon its name. The main fork leads
east along the Failand Ridge towards Clifton, where it is cut through by the
River Avon and its deep gorge. On the North side of the Failand Ridge are many
patches of Pennant Sandstone containing coal measures, and on the south side are
a number of pockets of Magnesian Limestone (Dolomite or Dolomitic Conglomerate)
At Tickenham there is a small area of igneous material. Coal mining was carried out in some of the areas of the
north side of the range, and ceased in the early 1800's. Clapton-in-Gordano was
the village in which this coalmining was done. (The cleft at East Clevedon opens
into a wedge shaped valley in which is three villages with the suffix -in-Gordano
generally accepted as an early word describing the valley shape. The earliest
reference is 'in Gordenlond' in a document of 1273) The western fork runs to the North East and terminates at
Portishead. In this range the 'Old Red Sandstone rises to the top with the
Mountain Limestone lying on the southeast side. The Magnesian Limestone lies in
Non-conformity on the sea slopes. The Gordano valley lying between the two forks
of hills is lined with Keuper Marl to the depth of over 200 feet (61.5 metres)
and also has light sand deposits at the Clevedon end of the valley between the
cleft of the hills. The marl crops out on the side of the hills and on the
valley floor a layer of peat and alluvial soil covers it. The flat land of the moors to the south of Clevedon is
alternating deposits of alluvial clay and peat. The outlier of Old Church Hill
and Wains Hill to the south west of the town is composed of Mountain Limestone
with a patch of Dolomite lying between them. Much of this beautiful Yellow-Buff
stone has been used in the building of the church. Many of the corner quoin
stones in the houses of Victorian Clevedon have also been built using this
stone, or that of the now closed Triassic conglomerate quarry at Wellington
Terrace. The darker Dolomite and the lighter Triassic shows easily which of the
materials was used in the various gateposts, Wall topping stones, and corner
quoin stones. In the 1880's the early Ordnance Survey Map shows that
there were over 20 small quarries in the town from which stone was taken, either
to level a site for building houses upon it, or to use as a commercial
proposition. Stone was also taken for Lime-burning and there were many small
Lime Kilns in the area. One of these gave the name to an early road 'Lime Kiln
Lane', now changed to 'Highdale Place' as the newcomers to the lane did not like
the reference to lime-burning. The Clevedon Civic Society, Local History Group can still
see some of the Kilns in Clevedon, and in the book ‘Clevedon from the Village
to the Town’ published; Mrs Gwyneth Yeates has an essay mentioning five of the
Clevedon kilns. Extract from Chilcot's Guide 1853 "Previously to Mr
Hollyman commencing the building of the Royal Hotel, [the largest portion of it
being since added] Nightingale Villa & Champion House, the site of the
present houses on Clevedon Hill as well as the now cultivated grounds in front
of them, were mere rabbit warrens." Population 1831
1457 1841
1741 1851
2000 approx. It was about 25 years since; previous to erection of the
Hotel & the buildings on the hill a comparatively unimportant though pretty
little village, principally occupied by respectable Farmers and their labourers.
The Inn bearing a very unostentatious exterior, and appropriately called The Old
Inn was the almost the only place in the village where 'entertainment' could be
obtained for man and horse Clevedon has since that
period risen by degrees into note, not only for the rich romantic scenery with
which it abounds, and for the delightful prospects on the way from Bristol,
especially by the old coach road; but also for the reputation it has obtained as
a watering place, being considered one of the most healthy spots in Great
Britain. The air is particularly mild and soft; the myrtle, arbutus and other
delicate shrubs, flourish in the gardens, and flowers, especially the dahlia,
monthly rose, yellow broom, and the deep blue anchusa, bloom most luxuriantly. What Chilcot wrote in his
1853 guide is still true today. Our winters are still mild, and when there has
been severe weather all around, we in Clevedon always get milder conditions. It
is often possible to stand on the hills at the top of the town and watch black
clouds coming up the Bristol Channel, only to split at the Holm Islands and move
away up the Welsh Coast or along the top of Mendip, which lies, to our south.
Only when we get a thunderstorm from the East do we need to worry, then it
follows the line of the Failand Ridge and comes directly over the town. |