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9
Geology.— The greater part of the district is of
the Tertiary period embracing the Eocene strata of
London Clay. In the portion nearer the river there
are post-tertiary deposits of gravel and sand,
described in the geological survey as "Valley Brick
Earth." This extends from the line of the river up
to the railway and then stretches down the Claremont
Road to the Kingston Boundary. Eossils
have been discovered occasionally, but not in any
quantity. In the clay there have been found round
stones or boulders with iron stained crystals and
deposits of crystalline gypsum.
In the Chessington portion of the district the
soil is entirely London Clay, undulating considerably.
SOCIAL CONDITIONS.
The district is a residential one. On the NorthWest
it is bounded by the River Thames, but a
considerable portion of it is on hill ground at a
height of from 100 to 300 feet above ordnance
datum.
A very large proportion of the adult residents
here are engaged in business in London, for access
to which the facilities offered by the Southern Railway
by both steam and electric trains, and by the
L.P.T.B. 'bus services, are not surpassed when compared
with any similar extra metropolitan district.
The new line of the Southern Railway through
Tolworth. Hook and Chessington has made good
progress during the year under review, and when it
is completed, the congestion on the trolley 'buses at
Surbiton Station should be greatly alleviated.