A DREADFUL PHENOMENON described and improved. : Being a particular account of the sudden stoppage of the River Severn, and of the terrible desolation that happened at the Birches between Coalbrook-Dale and Build-Was Bridge in Shropshire, on Thursday morning May the 27th, 1773. And The Substance of a Sermon Preached the next Day on the Ruins, to a vast Concourse of Spectators. By John Fletcher, Vicar of Madeley in Shropshire, and Chaplain to the Right Hon. the Earl of Buchan. ( SHROPSHIRE LANDSLIP OF 1773 Buildwas Coalbrookdale ) By John Fletcher, Vicar of Madeley

John Fletcher, Vicar of Madeley

Published by Printed by J. Eddowes and sold by J. Buckland, in Pater-Noster-Row, London; T. Mills, in Bath; and S. Aris, in Birmingham, Shrewsbury, 1773

About this Item

Published in Shrewsbury in 1773, this is the scarce First Edition of John Fletcher?s account of the landslip at Buildwas in Shropshire that blocked the River Severn for a number of days, when 18 acres of land slipped down the hillside at The Birches after heavy rains. Fletcher also mentions finding butterflies preserved in the rock that was uncovered by the slip ( actually the tails of Dalmanites trilobites which do have a butterfly like appearance,) these fossils were sent to the British Museum for study, which is possibly the earliest account of finding trilobite fossils in the county. The book is bound with its half title page. There is a second publication bound in, Horace in London published in 1813, bound in an old full leather binding, the binding has some cracking of joints and some rubbing wear, else holding well, internally old ownership name to title page of Horace in London, some foxing marks, Dreadful Phenomenon has foxing to half title and title page else in good general condition, hard to find in First Edition form, the book was reprinted the following year by W. Pine in Bristol. Seller Inventory # 004306

Bibliographic Details

Title: A DREADFUL PHENOMENON described and improved...

Publisher: Printed by J. Eddowes and sold by J. Buckland, in Pater-Noster-Row, London; T. Mills, in Bath; and S. Aris, in Birmingham, Shrewsbury

Publication Date: 1773

Binding: Full-Leather

Condition: Good

Edition: 1st Edition