35

1)

Jun 10th 1877 Leith Hill Place. — A lime kiln was pulled down 35 years ago, [illeg] within a year, which stood in a sloping grass-field. Three layers quartzose sand later slabs were left lying on brick-rubbish & bits of stones near the spot [insertion:] believed to have found bed of Kiln where kiln stood. The earth is sandy slightly argillaceous & about 1/3 counts of angular fragments of sandstone.

[sketch A:] 64 inches [by] 17 inches

The uppermost one has shown greatly elongated — 9-10 inches thick. — Lawn surface in middle slightly protuberant in parts. The protuberances now lying on bits of bricks & stones. The general level of lower surface is between 5 & 6 inches beneath crust of outer. The surface of level rose all round stone, from a distance of about 9 inches, so that the margin of field in contact with the stone was in most places 4 inches above the surface of field, as ascertained by placing long straight square on the field, after the stone was removed. In one part however, the margin consisted of live worms -lifted earth to a thickness of 7 inches. At first worms filled up spaces beneath the stone & then raised surface of field round it — many castings round edges. At attenuated point A surface of field on a level with top of stone. — In another casting cd have been buried.

[annotation to sketch:] Section after removal of stone / 9 inches / 5 or 6 inches beneath edge of [illeg] / 9 inches / level of field

Section across the stone ie 17 inches all cd be laid down on sides

(over)

35v

on meadows at base of cliffs we do not see great fragments & yet during storms or struck with lightning stones must continue roll from one field.

36

2)

Great middle stone or rather slab

[sketch — measurements]

[Length] 67 inches

[Width] 39 inches

[Depth] 15 inches thick

Nearly level but with some shallow path

This great slab nearly level on under surface, slightly protuberant in parts on middle, in which it must have vertical at first on pieces of brick & stones. The lower surface about say 4 1.2 about 5 inches beneath edge of field. Raised margins in some part 2 or 2 1/2 inches high, but in some parts 5 1/2 high — say 3 inches but sloping outwards from 14 to 16 inches, so a good deal of earth must have been removed. The margin was considerably higher along the southern than along the northern margin.

Earth beneath the stone as in last case — in most part fine, as worms had first to fill up cavities — quite damp. — but it is a stronger fact that in digging beneath the stone that a depth of 18 inches only 2 worms were seen, & very few burrows, there was however one at the depth of 18 inches, — Beneath both these stones there were enormous colonies of ants, & probably they are hostile to worms, if so the wall must have been down before the colonies formed. — Some castings close round edge of stone. — So bring the stone to level of field supposing ants to be about wd require about 35 x 4 [=] 140 years.

The process cd probably go on slower as stone sank, so say 200 years:

(over)

36v

3)

Third & sunken stones somewhat lower down field, & which I do not doubt had been rolled lower down slope at some of more recent times, (a strong worm was about to roll it over) & it rested with pointed part & whole lower surface one worm lifted earth which must have been grass-land & not in any part on brick rubbish. Only 38 inches long & 19 inches wide & 12 inches thick.

The raised margin generally only about 1 inch high but in one part 2 inches high. Slightly protuberant in middle part of lower surface. How no [earth] — I found several burrows by digging in earth beneath

(It is possible that passage from the stones such sands soil full of fragments of stones could have bulged up earth round many of stones, as might have happened had they rested on clay — Earth also matted with grass roots — Round margin protuberant placing [found] of castings)

The 3 great stones had probably been rolled a little to other side on the road to Kiln or agree where much brick rubbish lay when kiln was pulled down, thinking this they wd be of use & wd then been left there for the 35 years

(June 11 I have looked at stones; it is clear that ends must have been some height above ground when first laid down. —no doubt partly filled up by worms and partly subsidence of stones by burrows beneath. The 2 upper stones which rested chiefly on bricks & stone rubbish cd have small but very little by mere pressure or weight — Lower earth sand & fragments stone.)

N.B in thickest part of mound are plenty of very large castings