Geology
Various geologists, including Robert Godwin-Austen, theorised that the geological conditions in East Kent were conducive to the existence of coal and therefore the potential for coal mining. Godwin-Austen put forward his views in 1857, and they were accepted by Sir Joseph Prestwich, who was a member of the Royal Coal Commission from 1866–71. The following seams are recognised. They are listed in stratigraphical order with the uppermost/youngest at the top and the lowermost/oldest at the bottom:
- Upper Coal Measures
- Kent No 1 (Beresford) seam
- Kent No 2
- Kent No 3
- Kent No 4
- Kent No 5
- Kent No 6 (Millyard) seam
- Middle Coal Measures
- Kent No 7 (Chislet No 5) seam
- Kent No 8
- Kent No 9
- Kent No 10
- Kent No 11
- Lower Coal Measures
- Kent No 12
- Kent No 13
- Kent No 14
Read more about this topic: Kent Coalfield