Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Engineering significance of superficial structures and landslides in the Bath area, UK

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The City of Bath is located in a steep-sided valley eroded through the competent, thickly bedded limestones and incompetent, weak mudrocks of the Lower and Middle Jurassic. In the Pleistocene, two types of camber developed; their engineering significance is discussed. In addition, a number of large landslides occurred in the valley of the River Avon during the Pleistocene. Historically, smaller landslides developed within these, one of which resulted in the destruction of 135 houses while another accounts for the presence of an asymmetric crescent in this world-famous Georgian city.

Resumé

La ville de Bath est située dans une vallée encaissée qui était érodée par les calcaires compétents en couches épaisses, et les argiles faibles et incompétentes du Jurassic Bas et Moyen. Au Pléistocène, deux types de bombement se sont développés; leur signification pour le génie est discutée. Plusieurs grands éboulements de terrain se sont produits dans la vallée de la Rivière Avon pendant le Pléistocène. Historiquement, de plus petits éboulements de terrain s’y sont développés, dont l’un a entraîné la destruction de 135 maisons tandis qu’un autre explique la présence d’une rue en arc de cercle asymétrique dans cette ville géorgienne de renommée mondiale.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21
Fig. 22
Fig. 23
Fig. 24

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barton ME, Palmer SN, Wong YL (1986) A geotechnical investigation of two Hampshire Tertiary Sand Beds: are they locked sands? Q J Eng Geol 19:399–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox BM, Sumbler MG, Ivimey-Cook HC (1999) A formational framework for the Lower Jurassic of England and Wales (Onshore Area). British Geological Survey, Research Report No RR/99/01

  • Harcourt Masters C (1810) The Georgian buildings of Bath from 1700–1830. In: Ison N (ed) (1948), Faber & Faber, London

  • Harmer FW (1907) On the origin of certain canon-like valleys associated with lake-like areas of depression. Q J Geol Soc Lond 63:470–514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins AB (1977a) Jurassic rocks of the Bath area. In: Savage RG (ed). Geological excursions in the Bristol District, University of Bristol, United Kingdom, pp 119–133

  • Hawkins AB (1977b) The Hedgemead landslip, Bath, Avon. In: Geddes JD (ed) Large ground movements and structures, Pentech Press, pp 472–498

  • Hawkins AB, Kellaway GA (1970) Field meeting at Bristol and Bath with special reference to new evidence of glaciation. Proc Geol Assoc 82:267–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins AB, McDonald C (1992) Decalcification and residual shear strength reduction in Fuller’s Earth Clay. Geotechnique 42:453–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins AB, Privett KD (1981) A building site on cambered ground at Radstock, Avon. Q J Eng Geol 14:151–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollingworth SE, Taylor JH, Kellaway GA (1944) Large-scale superficial structures in the Northampton Ironstone Field. Q J Geol Soc Lond 100:1–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ison N (1948) The Georgian buildings of Bath from 1700–1830. Faber & Faber, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellaway GA, Taylor JH (1968) The influence of landslipping on the development of the city of Bath, England. Proceedings of the 23rd International Geological Congress. Czechoslovakia 12:65–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips J (1844) Memoirs of William Smith, LL.D. Torrens H (2003) Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, p 230

  • Richardson L (1907) The Inferior Oolite and contiguous deposits of the Bath-Doulting district. Q J Geol Soc Lond 63:383–423

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Self CA (1995) The relationship between the gull cave, Sally’s Rift and the development of the river Avon east of Bath. Proc Univ Bristol Spelaeol Soc 210:91–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodward HR (1876) Geology of East Somerset and the Bristol coal-fields. British Geological Survey, p 271

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author is grateful to Marcus Hawkins for preparing the diagrams.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Charlotte House, 22 Charlotte Street, Bristol, BS1 5PZ, UK

    A. B. Hawkins

Authors
  1. A. B. Hawkins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. B. Hawkins.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hawkins, A.B. Engineering significance of superficial structures and landslides in the Bath area, UK. Bull Eng Geol Environ 72, 353–370 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-013-0481-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-013-0481-8

Keywords

Mots clés

Search

Navigation