Geological Sites | Leeds
| Bradford | Calderdale
| Kirklees | Wakefield
 STATUS: RIGS
OTHER DESIGNATIONS: SEGI
COUNTY: West Yorkshire
DISTRICT: Bradford
OS GRID REF. SE 142 401 (Trig point)
OS SHEET 1:50,000 Landranger 104 Leeds and Bradford
OS SHEET: 1:25,000 Explorer 288 – Bradford and Huddersfield
BGS 1:50,000 Geological Sheet 69, Bradford (Solid and Drift Edition)
FIRST DESIGNATED by West Yorkshire RIGS Group in 1996
DATE OF MOST RECENT SURVEY Visited November 2007 by West Yorkshire Geology
Trust
SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION produced by Neil Aitkenhead
SITE DESCRIPTION:
Baildon Moor is a faulted outlier of Lower Coal Measures strata. The
site contains many geological and archaeological features, including
fossil sites, ganister rich in plant fossils and medieval bell pits
where the Hard Bed and Soft Bed coals were mined.
At SE 137 397 above
Crook Farm, old coal pit spoil heaps contain numerous marine fossils,
including Gastrioceras, Dunbarella and Lingula.
Evidence of quarrying for stone can be found in abandoned workings,
where rock was split along micaceous partings to produce flagstones.
HISTORICAL
ASSOCIATIONS:
In medieval times Baildon Moor contained ironstone pits and bloomery
sites. Evidence of smelting can be found on Baildon Hill at SE 140
402. There are bell pits where the Hard Bed and Soft Bed coals were
mined.
 EDUCATIONAL VALUE:
This is an excellent educational area as the geology can be clearly seen
in the landscapes of Baildon Moor. There is also a long history of
exploitation of sandstone and coal on the moor.
AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS:
There are excellent in all directions from Baildon Moor, to the south
across the Upper Carboniferous Coal Measures to the Millstone Grit
of the Pennines and to the north into the Lower Carboniferous rocks
of the Yorkshire Dales.
ACCESS AND SAFETY
There are numerous car parks surrounding Baildon Moor which is common
land. However by parking near Brackenhall Countryside Centre, Shipley
Glen and Baildon Moor may be visited during a 4km excursion on foot. |
