OS1/5/19/44

Continued entries/extra info

4 -- W. Beatty.

Eyemouth (parish) -- Eyemouth (Parish) -- Continued from page 3

The only other rock which we have to notice as occurring in the parish is a remarkable mass of breccia or coarse conglorerate, which must be referred to the old red Sandstone formation __ It forms the beautiful projecting point Knowe by the name of the Fort, on the North West side of the Bay of Eyemouth _ The space which it occupies is inconsiderable, being apparently little more than the eighth part of a mile square, with an average thickness of about fifty-feet; but in point both of Structure and situation it is highly interesting - It rests immediately on the trap rocks already described, the junction being well seen round nearly half a mile of sea-coast - One half rests on the trap-tuff, and the other on the porphyry - Though somewhat rude and imperfect, a stratification may nevertheless, be traced, the strata being nearly horizontal - As in other situations where the oldest member of this formation is observed, it is here composed almost entirely of the detritus of the rocks on which it rests, and of the older rocks in the neighbourhood, viz [namely] - greywacke, porphyry etc. united generally by an arenaceous cement_ It is remarkable that, on both sides of the high land terminating at St. Abb's Head, we find, as we recede from St. Abb's, and very nearly at equal distances, the same great succession of rock formations - What distinguishes the situation of the old red sandstone in this parish from its corresponding situation on the other side of the high land alluded to, is, that there it rests, as we would expect, immediately on greywacke, while in this parish it rests upon trap - Whether this great mass of conglomerate has been deposited subsequently or ??tecedently to the formation of the trap, is a question which we leave to be settled by geologists; altho we cannot help saying that the appearances observable incline us to the former supposition _ This conglomerate forms an excellent building stone in situations where it is exposed to the action of sea water, for which purpose it has been extensively employed in the construction of the breakwater, Quays, etc. of the harbour of Eyemouth - It can be quarried in masses of any size - -
Under the head of antiquities, we have only to mention the remains of the fortification upon the bold

Transcriber's notes

'Merse' has been scored out in the 'List of Names' column.