99

Feb 9 1872

i = inches

(1)

St Catherine's hill, Winchester, one mile South of Town an irregular conical hill with steep sides & dome shaped top about 2/3 from base it is surrounded by a deep ditch cut in the undisturbed chalk that continues up the ditch having been thrown upwards in some parts so as to form a steep bank above the ditch. The general form & size of the ditch is an ellipse with longer axis nearly 1/4 mile, the shorter about 3/16 mile. — Antiquaries say it is the work of Britain, Danes, or Romans, most probably the latter.

Dug a hole about 25 yrds from W. base of slope (∠ 15°) could not find a place on that side of less angle as the base of hill is cut-away to form a canal.

Found 5 inches pure mould, then 8 inches of mixed chalk & mould (chalk smallish rounded pieces) then came to chalk bottom — plenty of worm castings.

Dug a hole 25 yards higher up (∠ 23°)

Mould 2 3/4 to 3 inches then mixed mould & Chalk (Containing some larger pieces of chalk) 6 1/2 to 6 3/4 i

Then came to chalk bottom.

About 200 ft above this we came to the ditch. The ∠ of slope just below ditch is 27 3/4° to 28°. ∠ of artificial Bank of ditch 34° general slope above ditch & bank 17° — 18° gradually getting flatter on to the top.

(See back)

[CUL-DAR63.94]

99v

got Parsons RE to analyze chalk from Chalk pit on N. E. of St Catherines — taken from near base up hill about [illeg] feet from surface measure [symbol] perpendicularly —

Sifted the fine chalk which came from the crevices to a powder 2.245 ounces left a residue of 0.225 of dirt about 1/10 th

Solid lump of chalk weighing 2.388 left residue of 0.185 of dirt i.e between 1 1/12 & 1 1/13

[Darwin describes the chalk samples William sent to Parsons in Earthworms, pp. 299-300.]

100

(2)

Ditch on N. W. slope of St Catherines

D = ditch

A = outer Bank of ditch

B = inner or upper Bank (artificial)

[sketch]

The outer bank of A at point taken is almost 1 ft to 18 inches high, being quite sufficient to prevent any earth passing out of itch D down the slope. — distance from top of Bank A to bottom of D 9 ft distance from bottom of D to top of slope B 54 ft.

From the largeness of the work, and the nearness of the chalk by the surface, and as it seems pretty certain that the ditch was made by digging out & throwing up, I think when the ditch & bank was made it must have or certainly the Ditch must have been sunk into the chalk

Consisted of pure chalk * see back of sheet — the higher up the slope we dug the larger pieces of chalk we came to and the more flints quite at base of hill I think no flints were found; but on top of bank B we found a considerable number of fair sized flints with chalk between the mould & the pure chalk. — and all above this on taking up the mould we first came to a layer of flints with bits of chalk & mould mixed, then more chalk and so on to pure chalk. —

? does not this look as if some chalk had been thrown down the slope below A and the big pieces of chalk dug out of ditch & flints carried up to [illeg] slope B.

100v

March 2

Note at N. E. where the top of upper Bank is only raised a foot or two but sufficient to prevent earth passing over — depth of furrow mould in ditch 4 1/2 i pieces of flints carried up to form the slope B.

101

[sketch of slopes]

101v

* This is doubtful, on reference to diagram p. 8 it is seen that in case of a bank & ditch made on such a slope as this it is probable that the contents of ditch D were thrown outwards over bank A, and the mould being thrown out first the bank A to D would be pure chalk; but the upper half of B would be made by throwing upwards and the mould would be thrown up first and would be at the top of the slope, so that though the slope B would be all chalk, the mould from the top would gradually be washed back down it into ditch D

102

(3)

at NW

dug hole in ditch D at a level spot outer bank about 1 ft high — found 5 3/4 I quite pure mould 5 i mould with a very few small bits of chalk, then 6 inches mixed mould & chalk making about 17 inches down to what we considered the pure chalk (I had a man digging for me)

N.B on the top of the small outer bank A there was only 1/2 to 1 i of turf on the pure chalk, so that the chalk showed through.

Halfway up slope of bank B (∠ 34°)

5 1/2 mould 8 1/2 mixed M. & C. then came to chalk bottom (must measure this again to be sure (quite right at Feb 14) but mixed mould & chalk varies from 6 1/2 to 8 1/2 I took it fairly at right angles to slope)

earth from line above can pass over the top of bank

 

At top of bank B where there is a band of [illeg] level (∠ 4°) 2 yards wide

4 1/2 to 5 inches M. Then large pieces of chalk and flints with some mould, chalk much larger a good sprinkling of flint & not much mixed mould

There was about 8 inches of this, then pure chalk.

Perhaps this depth of mould is caused by the earth blown up in making Bank.

103

(4)

about 30 yrds above top of bank B (∠ 13°) 2 i mould 8 inches of mould & chalk, chalk getting rapidly more plentiful in comparison to mould — largish flints, saw a worm at a depth of 8 to 9 inches between the lumps of chalk.

level part of top (perhaps ∠ 2°) exposed to S & W 3 i mould then flints then chalk & flints & mould 5 1/2 inches, making 8 1/2 in all; could not dig deeper, suppose it was chalk bottom

Flints increase as we reach the top.

Examined ditch on S side of hill much more evidently artificial

[sketch]

On top of Bank B almost 1 1/2 inch mould then chalk. Distance from top of B to D about 42 ft height up bank A about 2 ft, height of top of B above upper slope 5 or 6 ft at 9 ft from top of B 2 i mould them lumps of Chalk mixed with M (∠ 32° — 33°) in ditch D (sloping W about 3°) at the very junction

[sketch]

104

(5)

of the slopes at outer and inner bank dug hole, found pure mould 4 3/4 to 5 i on side of hole nearest B about 3 1/2 i on side A — then mixed chalk & mould. The ditch here is very narrow compared to ditch at E. East hence M deeper

(flints dug)

at base of St Catherines at 3 are some old shallow pits now covered with grass

Across three old pits the grass gently slope up a hill opposite St Cath:

Dug a hole at bottom (∠ 7°)

(a) 7 1/2 i mould 2 to 3 i mixed mould & chalk, did not go deeper, as I had no man to dig.

(b) 70 yards up this slope (∠ 14°) — 3 1/4 to 3 1/2 pure mould then mixed mould & chalk

(c) at 110 or so yard, higher angles getting steeper it becomes nearly level (∠ 1°) — depth of mould 5 i.

(d) 100 further on to quite level — 4 1/2 to 5 i mould then flints & mixed chalk — exposed to S. W.

[sketch]

105

Feb 14 1872

(6)

St Catherine Hill

N. side, the upper bank is lower here and the mould could pass over the top from upper part of hill

Near top upper bank where ∠ is 7° there was 4 i mould then mixed chalk mould & flints, this 4 i of mould may be in consequence of making the ditch

10 yards higher up (y) ∠ 13 3/4 — mould 2 3/4 i. then 10 i (or how many inches) mixed M. C. large pieces of chalk & flint not much mould — then chalk bottom — the man called it rubble

distance from top of bank to bottom of dirt 45 ft ∠ 29°

The ditch itself sloped 6° to 7° to W.

pure mould 4 1/2 i then 17 1/2 inch mould with very small bits of chalk & a few flints in it

4/5 or more mould earth could easily pass over top of bank; in several places coal bits of chalk & flints had rolled down Kicked out of lavish places such as the top of the lower bank aby sheep &c.

All round the ditch was greener than elsewhere

106

Feb 14

(7)

N side a little more to W.

6 yrds above top of upper bank (∠ 18 1/2°) natural soiled could pass over top soil, mould 2 1/2 to 3/4 i (see ∠ [around] just at left

1/2 way down slope of bank (∠ 29° to 31°) — 3 1/2 i mound then 7 inches mixed M & C large piece.

Distance from top of bank to bottom of ditch 59 ft

ditch level wider than the last place Measure width

soil prevented by low bank on outside of one foot from passing out.

5 1/4 pure mould — then 13 1/4 of M. & C. & flint very little small bits of chalk at first, gradually yellowy more and larger, a good deal of in the whole depth — perhaps an inch or two deeper to pure chalk

On top of lower bank only 1/2 to 3/4 inch of turf little bits of chalk breaking, & crumbling, cut off grass, which wound easily, rolled back into ditch

107

Feb 14

(8)

The Bank at different parts is made in different ways according to the slope of the ground, and the chalk & thrown partly down, or all uphill as the case may be.

[sketches]

On the S & W of St .Cath. the ditch is like A — on the N. & E. and S. E. like B.

Examined point at N.E

top of upper bank (marked B in red) was about 5 to 6 ft above general level. dug hole at X by above top of upper bank B red (∠ 3 1/2°) mould 2 2/3 i, the natural surface top of upper bank (B red) with merely thin turf on the chalk

chalk bits coming out of grass easily

distance from B red to D 40 1/2 to 41 ft ∠ of slope 30°

depth of mould half way down 4 1/4 inches

fair quantity of mould

108

Feb 14

9)

ditch D Red level but considerably broader examine width

depth of M. 5 i then mixed mould and chalk very few worm castings in this slope so that little had fallen down

fair quantity of mould on slope & in ditch

loose stuff would easily work down from top & be imbedded at bottom

point at East upper bank made as before about 4 to 5 feet high — distance from top of bank to ditch about 47 foot (∠ of slope 31°) outer or lower ditch about 5 to 6 feet ie in diagram B height of A red above D red

Mould in ditch 3 1/2 i breadth of ditch

Then thick rubble consists of flints chalk & not much M.

109

Feb 14

10)

point at S.E. — upper Bank 4 feet high (ie B red) 8 yrds above upper Bank (ie in diagram below)

∠ 6 1/4° mould only 2 3/4 nat. surface at base of slope of upper bank where it begins to slope up to form bank — found 8 inches of mould see point X red

b to X 13 1/2 ft x to y 4 1/2 ft

[sketch]

The man explained this by saying that when this bank was made, the mould was thrown up first before coming to the chalk, so that before digging the man (who was a layer out of lawns &c) said "Now here you will find about 8 or 9 inches of mould" — the only point is that the slope B to D much certainly have been originally pure chalk

From top of B to bottom of ditch D 49 ft ∠ of slope 28° to 30°

Ditch very broad see breadth

Mound half way down slope 3 15/42 then mixed flint chalk & mould, few W. casting light coloured

[in margin:] I do not believe the explanation the small amount of mould thrown up in sinking. B must have been curious with chalk

110

Feb 14 See back

11)

Mould in ditch which was very broad 3 1/4 i then mixed fl: ch: M.

Examined W slope below lower ditch the slope was natural surface & slope away almost to a level grass field

about 2 to 3 yds below lower ditch — mould only 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches (∠ 25°)

1/2 way down slope 40 or 50 yds (∠ 24°) mould was 2 to 2 1/4 i

At base of slope 80 or 90 yards lower nearly level mould 8 1/4 i with very few little bits of chalk flint imbedded then came to flint bottom some flints bits of chalk were lying about apparently having been kicked out of a path that ran diagonally across hill

Lots of splendid castings — it is clear that wherever the soil improves the castings increase in size, and I think they increase as the slope increases certainly on the chalk artificial slopes in the N & E they are much less than on natural surface

110v

[sketch]

D to 1 40 to 50 yds

1-2 40-50

2-3 10 yds

3-4 20 yds

4-5 20 yds

5-6 20 yds

between 2 & 3 an old low bank & ditch forming an old boundary runs general 8 up of valley at 2 & 3 nearly 2° — Gardener was positive that after thunder showers he had seen water rushing down such valleys — the bottom of this valley roughly speaking was 20 — 25 yr old

wide — for D 1 .2 see back

at point 3; 8 1/2 pure mound 15 1/2 good mould with very few flints must dig deeper

at 4 mould 8-9 i

at 5 [do] 8 i

at 6 [do] 7 3/4