23October 2016
Map
Eve Fraser (a convert to geology though she has serious archaeological roots) and self, parked just over Ham Bridge (SO737610) and walked along the drive to Ham Farm (SO739598) to prospect the stone buildings and a small quarry that Eve and her friends had spotted on a previous walk. En route an obvious eroded quarried area (SO741601) before reaching a variety of farm buildings, modern, ancient timber framed with brick infill and stone. On the west of the River Teme the bedrock is of Devonian age, the formation, St Maughans sandstone. The stone where it was used in the buildings was obviously a sandstone, weather worn, providing plenty of hiding places for insects and small birds. Just beyond the farmstead on a right of way that leads to Whitbourne and Woodmanton a delightful, small quarry set into the side of a steep bluff, maybe 6-8 m high (SO737598). Massive (i.e. big blocks, jolly good for building) in the lower structure, suddenly thinly bedded for the top two metres (similar to Scar Cottage, but there, it is Triassic, some 130 million years younger).