Talk on Frome’s role in early geology

Residents will learn how the local area shaped the foundations of modern geology during an upcoming talk this month at the Frome Society.

Alan Butcher, a visiting professor at the Open University, will speak on Saturday 31st October about two local people who were the first geologists in the early 1800s.

Organiser John Peverley said, “In the early 1800’s, when the origin of planet earth was being hotly debated, two people, living near Frome, independently came up with ideas for the systematic study of rocks and fossils. One of them, William Smith, the author of the first geological map of England and Wales, was based near Midford, the other, Etheldred Bennet, lived near Warminster. They both used the natural landscape, the occurrence of natural spring lines, rocks turned up by the plough, excavations for canals, quarrying and underground exposures in coal mines, to unravel the fascinating history of rocks that became known as Geology. They were the first ‘geologists’.

“Alan will describe to the Frome Society, how, with the work of William Smith and Etheldred Bennet, the area near Frome became the cradle of English geology and how it played a part in the development of a new science, just because the local rocks had preserved fossils and structures within them. Alan’s interest in geology, which started in his school days, has led him to work on rocks in every continent, as well as on samples from the Moon and Mars.”

The event takes place in the Assembly Rooms at the rear of the Frome Memorial Theatre, starting at 2.30pm.

Visitors are welcome to attend the lecture, with tickets costing £5. Advance booking is required and can be completed via the Frome Society website www.fromesociety.org.uk

Pictured: Alan at the Geological Society in London