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Bucks Earth Heritage GroupPortlandThere are no in-situ exposures of Portland rock, although this rock and the Portland fossils can be seen all over the place within buildings. Without doubt the most famous fossil is a very large ammonite called Titanites giganteus. The Portland rocks represent a time when warm, tropical seas covered Bucks 144 million years ago.
Titanites giganteus, the large ammonite from the Portland limestone
Portland ammonites.
Many of the fossils are internal moulds like this gastropod called Pleurotomaria
Below a close up of Pleurotomaria
Quainton is a lovely little West Bucks village. There is a lot to see there such as the cross (Portland Limestone), the church, the windmill and some lovely ammonites such as Titanites giganteus in the village stores (seen below).
The gypsy kings gravestone, at the bottom of Pitchcott hill. Legend has it that when gypsy kings die a stone is rolled down a hill and where it comes to rest is to be the location of the grave.
A farm wall at Pitchcott. Here the Portland Limestone was sourced not far away from a small quarry between Oving and Pitchcott. Fossils (bivalves) can be seen in the central block and in the close-up below.
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