Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T16:02:42.791Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Development of the Thames drainage system in Early and Middle Pleistocene times

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

C. P. Green
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, Bedford College, University of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4NS
D. F. M. McGregor
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, Bedford College, University of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4NS
A. H. Evans
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, Bedford College, University of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4NS

Summary

Pre-Anglian terrace stages of the proto-Thames system are traced from the present middle Thames area into Essex and south East Anglia. Gravel composition indicates that each of the main terrace stages is associated with an influx of far-travelled material, probably signifying at least three phases of pre-Anglian glaciation in the south Midlands. Gravel composition also indicates the occurrence of major changes during Early and Middle Pleistocene times in the extent of the Thames catchment, and in the disposition of the main drainage lines. The important role of the Goring Gap in the development of the drainage system is noted, and the nature and distribution of Anglian fluvioglacial gravels are described.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Baker, C. A. & Jones, D. K. C. 1980. Glaciation of the London Basin and its influence on the drainage pattern: a review and appraisal. In The Shaping of Southern England, Inst. Br. Geogr. Sp. Pub. 11 (ed. Jones, D. K. C.), pp. 131–75. London, New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Bridgland, D. 1980. A reappraisal of Pleistocene stratigraphy in north Kent and eastern Essex and new evidence concerning the former courses of the Thames and Medway. Quaternary Newsletter, 32, 1424.Google Scholar
Gibbard, P. L. 1977. Pleistocene history of the Vale of St Albans. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 280, 445–83.Google Scholar
Gibbard, P. L. 1979. Middle Pleistocene drainage in the Thames valley Geol. Mag. 116, 3544.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Green, C. P. & McGregor, D. F. M. 1978. Pleistocene Gravel Trains of the River Thames Proc. Geol. Ass. 89, 143–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Green, C. P., Hey, R. W. & McGregor, D. F. M. 1980. Volcanic pebbles in Pleistocene gravels of the Thames in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire Geol. Mag. 117, 5964.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hare, F. K. 1947. The geomorphology of a part of the middle Thames Proc. Geol. Ass. 58, 294339.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hey, R. W. 1965. Highly quartzose Pebble Gravels in the London Basin Proc. Geol. Ass. 76, 403–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hey, R. W. 1976. Provenance of far-travelled pebbles in the pre-Anglian Pleistocene of East Anglia Proc. Geol. Ass. 87, 6981.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hey, R. W. 1980. Equivalents of the Westland Green Gravels in Essex and East Anglia Proc. Geol. Ass. 91, 279–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McGregor, D. F. M. & Green, C. P. 1978. Gravels of the River Thames as a guide to Pleistocene catchment changes Boreas 7, 197203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rose, J. & Allen, P. 1977. Middle Pleistocene stratigraphy in south-east Suffolk J. geol. Soc. Lond. 133, 83102.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rose, J., Allen, P. & Hey, R. W. 1976. Middle Pleistocene stratigraphy in southern East Anglia Nature, Lond. 263, 492–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rose, J., Allen, P. & Wymer, J. J. 1978. Weekend field meeting in south-east Suffolk, 15–17 October 1976 Proc. Geol. Ass. 89, 8190.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Salter, A. E. 1905. On the superficial deposits of central and parts of southern England Proc. Geol. Ass. 19, 156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Saner, B. R. & Wooldridge, S. W. 1929. River development in Essex Essex Naturalist 22, 244–50.Google Scholar
Sherlock, R. L. & Noble, A. H. 1912. On the origin of the clay-with-flints of Buckinghamshire and on a former course of the Thames Q. Jl geol. Soc. Lond. 68, 199212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wooldridge, S. W. & Henderson, H. C. K. 1955. Some aspects of the physiography of the eastern part of the London Basin Trans. Inst. Br. Geogr. 21, 119.Google Scholar