Local Heroes of Hertfordshire geology
(Local Heroes event)
| Organised by: | Hertfordshire Geological Society and St. Albans and Hertfordshire Archaeological and Architectural Society |
| Date: | 22-23 September 2007 |
| Event Type: | Local Heroes Event |
| Venue: | Verulamium Museum, St. Albans |
This event celebrates four local heroes who worked in Hertfordshire, Thomas Telford, William Smith, G.W.Lamplugh and W.Whitaker.
Meeting: Meet on both days at 10:30 am at Verulamium Museum (indoors on 22nd, outside the entrance on 23rd)
The programme of the Saturday meeting is:
Dr Peter Banham: William Smith, ‘The Father of English Geology’ and Thomas Telford: early (1805-’20) contributions to geology north of London
As an early member of the Geological Society of London (GSL; founded 1807) and first President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, it is not too surprising that the great Telford reveals in his many engineering works for the Grand Junction Canal Company a clear understanding of Chilterns geology along the Herts/Bucks border.
Meanwhile, despite his limited engineering success on the Wilts & Berks Canal, threatened with bankruptcy and still spurned by the GSL, William Smith privately produced the first, county-based geological maps within this region, and initiated the discipline of biostratigraphy which, amongst much else, underpins a good deal of modern engineering activity.
Professor Peter Worsley: William Whitaker, a major contributor to the geology of Hertfordshire
William Whitaker (1836-1925) spent his entire career with the Geological Survey of Great Britain. He is best known for his work in SE England, particularly in Hertfordshire, and as one of the pioneers of hydrogeology. He had a deep interest in geomorphology and made fundamental contributions to our understanding of landscape development. He was also a member of the first glacial expedition from the Geological Survey.
Jack Doyle: G. W. Lamplugh, a famous inhabitant of St. Albans
Although he was brought up in Bridlington and did his most useful geological work on the Yorkshire coast, George William Lamplugh came to live in St. Albans in 1892 when he was offered a job with the British Geological Survey, later becoming an Assistant Director, a Fellow of the Royal Society and President of the Geological Society of London.
Lamplugh’s international reputation was based mainly on his highly detailed subdivision of the Lower Cretaceous Speeton Clay in Yorkshire and its correlation with successions in France, Germany and Russia, but he is equally famous as a glaciologist and for his descriptions of the Quaternary deposits in East Yorkshire and the Isle of Man.
The Sunday 23 field meeting will be a walk to examine building stones and architectural features of St. Albans.
Meeting: Meet on both days at 10:30 am at Verulamium Museum (indoors on 22nd, outside the entrance on 23rd)
The programme of the Saturday meeting is:
Dr Peter Banham: William Smith, ‘The Father of English Geology’ and Thomas Telford: early (1805-’20) contributions to geology north of London
As an early member of the Geological Society of London (GSL; founded 1807) and first President of the Institution of Civil Engineers, it is not too surprising that the great Telford reveals in his many engineering works for the Grand Junction Canal Company a clear understanding of Chilterns geology along the Herts/Bucks border.
Meanwhile, despite his limited engineering success on the Wilts & Berks Canal, threatened with bankruptcy and still spurned by the GSL, William Smith privately produced the first, county-based geological maps within this region, and initiated the discipline of biostratigraphy which, amongst much else, underpins a good deal of modern engineering activity.
Professor Peter Worsley: William Whitaker, a major contributor to the geology of Hertfordshire
William Whitaker (1836-1925) spent his entire career with the Geological Survey of Great Britain. He is best known for his work in SE England, particularly in Hertfordshire, and as one of the pioneers of hydrogeology. He had a deep interest in geomorphology and made fundamental contributions to our understanding of landscape development. He was also a member of the first glacial expedition from the Geological Survey.
Jack Doyle: G. W. Lamplugh, a famous inhabitant of St. Albans
Although he was brought up in Bridlington and did his most useful geological work on the Yorkshire coast, George William Lamplugh came to live in St. Albans in 1892 when he was offered a job with the British Geological Survey, later becoming an Assistant Director, a Fellow of the Royal Society and President of the Geological Society of London.
Lamplugh’s international reputation was based mainly on his highly detailed subdivision of the Lower Cretaceous Speeton Clay in Yorkshire and its correlation with successions in France, Germany and Russia, but he is equally famous as a glaciologist and for his descriptions of the Quaternary deposits in East Yorkshire and the Isle of Man.
The Sunday 23 field meeting will be a walk to examine building stones and architectural features of St. Albans.