OAK, PINE, YEW.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 291, 21 November 1936, Page 5

OAK, PINE, YEW.

OForest Under Bed Of River i Thames. Press Association--Copyright. ! London, Oct. 1. ' The Port of London Authority is prim- ■ arily interested in the handling and stor- j age of timber of to-day, but in the P.L.A. ; Monthly for October interesting notes are i given on timber of ancient times. “Excavations during the construction > of the southern outfall sewer in Plum- j stead Marshes revealed an old forest bed I extending for several miles. The course 1 of this submerged forest lies between , Erith on the south side and the River ; Lea on the north side, passing under the bed of the Thames. Many of these slimecovered tree-trunks extend right up to the banks in some places, as, for instance, near Stoneness, in Essex. Oak. pine, and yew were the chief kinds found, to- ‘ gether with peat composed of twigs and leaves. It is difficult to visualise this | busy part of the river to-day as a prim- | eval forest and to imagine that where the shipping of London daily passes were 'once the tops of majestic trees.’’ I