Geological Sites | Leeds
| Bradford | Calderdale
| Kirklees | Wakefield
 STATUS:
Local Geological Site
OTHER DESIGNATIONS:
COUNTY: West Yorkshire
DISTRICT: Bradford
OS GRID REF. SE 145 388 to SE 152 392
OS SHEET 1:50,000 Landranger 104 Leeds and Bradford
OS SHEET: 1:25,000 Explorer 228 - Bradford and Huddersfield
BGS 1:50,000 Geological Sheet 69 - Bradford (Solid and Drift Edition)
FIRST DESIGNATED by West Yorkshire LGS Group in 1996
DATE OF MOST RECENT SURVEY West Yorkshire Geology Trust in January 2009
SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION produced by Neil Aitkenhead
DESIGNATION SHEET UPDATED August 2009
 SITE DESCRIPTION
Exposures of Rough Rock and Rough Rock Flag sandstones at the top of the Millstone
Grit Group, extend for approximately 1km above Baildon Green, forming part of
a fine
escarpment overlooking Airedale. The site has been quarried for much of its length,
although there are still natural exposures in some places. The Rough Rock is
interpreted
by Bristow as a braided river sheet sandstone deposit.
There is a 50m deep quarry to the north of Baildon Bank quarry, with
vertical faces on all
sides, which used to be accessed by a tunnel through solid rock, now blocked
off.
Baildon Bank Quarry (SE 150 390):
The extensive exposures of Rough Rock illustrate a range of structures
including cross
bedding, massive bedding, pebble horizons and sections with much finer bedding.
The
rock is generally coarse grained and weathered to a red/orange tint. Narrow
bands of finer
silts and shales within the massive bedding show differential weathering. Bristow,
in the
article which is referred to below, mentions that the exposure can be divided
into two
units. ‘In the lower part, beds dip towards the west in bedsets up to
8m thick.
Sedimentary structures within the bedsets change from sets of trough
cross-stratification
to down-current-dipping sets of cross-stratification along strike. In
contrast, the
overlying cross-stratified sandstones have a palaeocurrent direction towards
the south.’ Fallen blocks of rock contain fossilised plant remains, including a 6m length
of a branch
which is probably about 30cm, across in a huge fallen block near the east end
of the
quarry.
Baildon Green Quarry (SE 145 388):
A partly infilled and overgrown quarry exposes the boundary between the Rough
Rock
and the underlying Rough Rock Flags. This site well illustrates the 2 different
types of
bedding. Thick cross bedded sets up to 2m thick on thinner sets with shale,
sandstone
and siltstone interbeds.
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS:
These quarries produced flagstones, kerb stones, lintels and building stones
for the local
area. Many smaller Rough Rock quarries in the district have been filled in.
EDUCATIONAL VALUE:
These are suitable sites for studying depositional structures and the quarrying
of building
stone. The excursion may be extended by visiting the Rough Rock at Load Pit
Beck in
Shipley Glen (SE 128 394) and the Lower Coal Measures outlier on Baildon Moor.
 AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS:
The top of the ridge is a good vantage point for views over the Aire Valley.
Noon Nick
glacial meltwater channel can be seen to the south-west.
ACCESS AND SAFETY:
Park along Green Lane (SE 152 390) and follow any one of numerous footpaths
ascending Baildon Bank. In addition, there is access to both quarries from
a footpath
that runs along the top of the quarry and is accessible from West Lane, Baildon.
The east
end of Baildon Bank quarry is accessible by footpath from Salisbury Avenue,
off West
Lane, where there is parking.
The area in front of the quarry face is grassed allowing good access
to the rock face.
Flooded workings behind the main exposures are dangerous and should be avoided.
Several quarry entrances have been blasted to prevent access. Parts of the
site are used
for climbing. The face of Baildon Bank quarry is unstable and rock falls
are common.
The footpaths are not made up for wheelchair use. |
