Page "William Smith (geologist)" Paragraph 4

entrance gates between brick pillars on top of a flight of stone steps and on each side of the gates facing the south was a niche in the wall, where I used to sit and study.

On the one side of the court was a row of lime trees, which screened it from the farmyard and the east wind, and on the other side was a large walled garden, and over the road of approach there was an avenue of fine elms all across a large piece of pasture.

This had been the coach road when the house was occupied, as I understand, by a Major John BRITTON, who, according to the account of the old farmer, was said to have ruined himself by working the coal upon his own estate half brother, William JONES of Stowey, baled him out with a loan of £ 1, 200, in return for which BRITTON left JONES his High Littleton estates and lordship of the manor on his death in 1742.

I collected much information from the old colliers respecting the coal, ancient collieries, faults re which I must herein omit ; but I must be rather particular in describing the house, through it's relation to the now extensively known science of geology ; for, as some of my pupils and friends have called the vicinity of Bath the cradle of geology.

I now inform them that RUGBURN WAS IT ' S BIRTHPLACE.