On the Upper Tertiaries at Copford, Essex
John Brown · Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society · 1852
Of the geological features of the county of Essex, none are more interesting than its various freshwater deposits, especially those of Grays, Clacton, and Copford. Notices of these deposits have appeared at various times, and a general description of the freshwater beds and erratic tertiaries of the last-named place forms the subject of the present paper. The Copford freshwater beds have been for several years extensively excavated to obtain brick-earth, and an idea of the relative position of the beds exposed by these excavations is given by the accompanying section. The clay or “earth” is obtained from three extensive workings, hereafter referred to as the western, eastern, and southern sections respectively. Other sections of these beds have also been obtained by casual excavations and by borings, to the west and south of the brick-field. This brick-field is about half a mile N.W. of Stanway Church, and lies between the railway and the high road, occupying about five acres. The ground slopes from the high-road northward to the flat marshy ground which is crossed by the railway embankment.