Ludlow Museum Gallery 4: The John Norton geology gallery

Geology is the study of the Earth; its origin, structure, composition and the processes that formed it.

Shropshire is a county rich in geology. It has over 300 geologically important sites containing a great variety of rocks and fossils, some dating back over 650 million years. These rocks represent a variety of environments experienced by the county over that time including deserts, volcanoes, coral reefs, tropical forests and glaciers.

The variety of Shropshire's geology can be seen at the following places:

• Wrekin
• Long Mynd
• Stiperstones
• Wenlock Edge
• Clee Hill
• Bridgnorth
• Grinshill
• Prees

Our last gallery tells the story of the local geology and contains hundreds of specimens of fossils from the local rocks. We begin with the story of the famous geologist Sir Roderick Impey Murchison 1792 – 1871, who began his geological studies at a time when the new science of geology was seen as both exciting and fashionable. Ludlow played a large role in his research when he first visited in 1831. His study of the rocks of the area was aided by local geologists like the Reverend Lewis who shared their ideas and notes with him.

Two more local men who collected further afield were William Erskine Baker 1808 - 1881 of Ludlow and John Colvin 1794 – 1871 of Leintwardine, who were both Royal Engineers posted to India during the mid 19th century. During their time there, they became interested in and began to collect fossils of strange animals that had been preserved in the rocks of the Siwalik area of northern India. Colvin was also a key member of the Ludlow Natural History Society so it was fitting that on their return to England they gave fossils they had collected to Ludlow Museum. In 1845 Baker made his first donation to Ludlow’s collections and some of these specimens are now back on display after over 60 years in store!

The final part of this gallery is about the living relatives of the fossils you can find in the Ludlow area.

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