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This EarthCache is a linear walk of around 3/4 mile, but can be combined with EHT9 (GC6KQ69) which together will take you on a circular route of around 1.5 miles, round Kington. If you do follow the circular walk, you can start and finish at almost any point, but please remember to note the features mentioned in the text. Parking is available in the town car parks or on-street away from the main centre (please park considerately).
Kington
Often bypassed by tourists following the A44 from the West Midlands to the Welsh coast (or indeed vice versa), Kington is an ancient market town, first mentioned in historical records in 1052 but probably dating back to Mercian and Saxon times. Formerly a hive of activity, including farming, commerce, quarrying and iron-making, it still has a range of independent shops in its narrow main street and a weekly sheep market is held every Thursday.
There is a Youth Hostel in the town (Victoria Road) and a walking festival takes place every year in the third week in September.
Geology:
Kington is picturesquely located in a narrow gap within a siltstone/limestone escarpment that extends from Ludlow westwards into Wales.
Stone features prominently in both houses and walls of the historic core, having been sourced from some 13 small quarries within a 2 mile reach of the town.
There are basically three types of rock: Sedimentary, Igneous and Metamorphic:
1 - Sedimentary rock
Formed by the deposition of small grains of material such as sand or mud. The strata forms horizontally often with characteristic ’layers’ visible in the rock. Over time these become buried and compacted to form rocks.
Examples include sandstone and mudstone which characteristically break apart relatively easily and can often be heavily eroded. Another type, indeed a special case, is limestone which forms from precipitation of Calcium Carbonate (the stuff egg shells are made of or what builds up in your kettle) often from snails and other shell-bearing creatures millions of years ago. The accumulation of this often whitish stuff can build great rock formation like the white chalk cliffs of Dover or supply aesthetically pleasing building materials like Cotswold stone. Coal is also a form of sedimentary rock formed from trees and plants.
2 - Igneous rocks: These form from molten rocks that cool and solidify deep in the ground (magma) or on the surface as lava. As the liquid rock cools it forms crystals that grow and get locked together forming rocks that are very hard and strong. Igneous rock find use in such disparate locations as road and kitchen surfaces. common rocks include basalt, granite, obsidian and gabbro.
3 - Metamorphic: The final rock type is a reworking of the former two, or indeed metamorphic rock itself, under immense pressure or heat such as in the heart of mountains or next to giant magma chambers. The heat causes igneous and sedimentary rocks to reform and become highly complex and often beautiful rocks. The reforming of the older rocks with random distribution of impurities of causes them to be highly prized as ornamental stones. Marble is a classic example where the often milky colour with various shades make it desirable, while as impurities in the original rock can also make it green, blue red and even shades of purple. Another commonly encountered metamorphic rock is slate, usually encountered as a building material, especially roof tiles.
For this EarthCache, the focus is on sedimentary rock
The main building stone here is sandstone, found in layers within the “Downton Castle” beds of Pridoli (late Silurian) age. The underlying and older “Upper Whitcliffe” siltstones are less successful as building material, being more susceptible to weathering; unlike with sandstone, the grain size is so small, there tends to be nothing tho stop the grains slipping against each other - rather like the difference between cement and concrete
Both rock types are “sedimentary” in nature. That means that they are composed of fragments that have been deposited (frequently in or by water), compacted and cemented. In the case of siltstone the fragments are barely visible and fossils are abundant; however the sandstones are composed of larger grains that are both visible to the eye and gritty to the touch.
The Route:
Stage 1 Suggested start point for this cache: The old Tramway (N52 12.353 W003 01.413)
On the RHS, looking down the tramway is the former Meredith’s iron foundry, supplied with water from local streams. The water was used for power and cooling. The feed channel from the Back Brook to the former foundry has now been filled in but you can still see a metal sluice gate between the weir and the footpath.
Stage 2: N52 12.424 W003 01.672 (Question 1 refers)
Look at the ‘disturbance’ or fold in the rock face at this point, it is known as a ‘symmetrical anticline’. An anticline is an arch formed as differing amounts of pressure act on the rock upsetting the horizontal nature - sedimentary rock is particularly useful for examining folds because we know it was originally laid horizontally. Using loose fragments of rock only, view carefully and feel the texture and grain size of the rock at this point.
Stage 3: N52 12.351 W003 01.965 (Question 2 refers)
Here you will see the end of a row of cottages made from local stone. Again, look at the texture and size of the grains forming the stone blocks.
Carry on over ‘Crooked Well’ and continue along the Tramway
Stage 4: Wordsworth’s Tree? N52 12.359 W003 02.015 (Question 3 refers)
Tradition says Wordsworth planted the tree. His brother-in-law, George Hutchinson, lived here at “Bywell” from 1852. The blocks lining the road have ‘drill holes’ – part of the former tramway construction. Observe the house to which the tree belongs; you should see a difference between the stones used to face the front and the side of the building.
Stage 5: Fossil rocks N52 12.378 W003 02.271 (Question 4 refers)
As you reach the weir you will notice a significant exposure of dipping rock strata on your left. This steep rocky face was probably exposed when the route excavated to make way for the tramway. Below it there are numerous loose rocks on the floor, just off the path; careful inspection should reveal fossils such as brachiopods, (marine animals that have hard "valves" (shells) on the upper and lower surfaces),
Waypoint 2 - end of accessible Tramway N52 12.383 W003 02.369
The navigable section of the tramway ends here as does this walk. You can re-trace your steps or, to head towards EHT9. which also takes you back into the town, head up the path to Campion Lane N52 12.336 W003 02.353 and on towards the church.
To claim this EarthCache, please send answers to the following questions to the profile link above:
Question 1. At Stage 2, observe the rock's appearance and texture; do you think it is more likely to be sandstone or siltstone? Where do you think the pressure would have come from (direction) to create a fold like this?
Question 2. At Stage 3, observe the stone used in the construction of the cottages; again, do you think this is more likely to be sandstone or siltstone?
For an extra point, have the builders laid the stones with the layers within the stone vertically or horizontally, or both? Which would make the better arrangement and why?
Question 3. At Stage 4, looking at the building behind 'Wordworth's Tree', What is the main visible difference between the front and the side? Why do you think the house built in this way?
Question 4. At Stage 5, please examine only loose rocks on the floor, just off the path; careful inspection should reveal fossils such as brachiopods. Are the rocks that you have picked up and examined more likely to be sandstone or siltstone?
The trust would love to see any photographs you would be willing to share in the gallery.
