stone sometimes occurs in plates or flakes,
(not) more than a quarter of an inch thickness,
and curved so as to resemble portions of
petrified wood.” It furnishes an excellent
road-material; and gives that remarkable
reddish hue to those roads which are Macad-
amized
with this stone. Fragments of
brown haematite, a kind of iron ore, occur
in this district. There are anciently seve-
ral iron-furnaces, of which the only me-
morials are four large ponds, called the
Hammer Ponds.
The only remaining portion of the
district to be noticed is that forming
the southern boundary, and which is
occupied by the clay formation of
the northern limit of the thickly wood-
ed weald of Surrey.
The General Aspect of the District
In many parts it is highly diversified
with hill and vale. The town of Godalming
stands on the high road to Portsmouth, and
is pleasantly situated in a beautiful valley
bordered by steep hills, the sides of which,
for the most part, are richly clothed with
ample foliage, rendering the surrounding
scenery highly picturesque. This character
extends itself more or less through the adjoining
valleys towards Guildford, adding much
beauty to the general scenery; and from the
different eminences a series of splendid
views are to be obtained. The Hog’s Back
commands a most extensive prospect.
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