Geological Sites | Leeds
| Bradford | Calderdale
| Kirklees | Wakefield
  STATUS:
Local Geological Site
OTHER DESIGNATIONS: SEGI
COUNTY: West Yorkshire
DISTRICT: Bradford
OS GRID REF. SE 143 272
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 77 Huddersfield (Solid and Drift Edition)
FIRST DESIGNATED by West Yorkshire LGS Group in 1996
DATE OF MOST RECENT SURVEY February 2009 by West Yorkshire Geology Trust
DESIGNATION SHEET UPDATED August 2009
SITE DESCRIPTION
An Upper Carboniferous Coal Measures cyclothem is exposed in the deeply
eroded
valley containing Royds Hall Beck. A sequence of shale, sandstone and
thin coal (Black
Bed Coal) are exposed in the west bank of the valley. Also within the
exposure are many
ironstone nodules. A waterfall has formed where more resistant sandstones
of the Clifton
Rock overlay softer rock. The waterfall can be seen to have cut back
upstream to the
north, forming a small gorge.
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS:
In Victorian times the site was landscaped and planted with beech trees.
Coal was mined
for many centuries on this site and in nearby pits. To the north
of the site in Hanna Wood,
the remains of bell pits can be found. The Low Wood Ironworks were
located nearby and the site contains tracks and mineral tramways
used for taking coal to the ironworks.
 EDUCATIONAL
VALUE:
This is a suitable site to study coal measures sedimentation and
to interpret the prevailing
depositional environments. Royds Hall Beck is an example of an
over-deepened valley
with a V - shaped cross section.
AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS:
The site is located within Judy Woods, between Wyke and Norwood
Green and contains
beech and oak woodland. It is much used as a recreational amenity.
ACCESS
AND SAFETY:
Park on Station Road and go through the south entrance to Judy
Woods. Recent work
has greatly improved the footpaths at the site, so the main
paths are accessible by
wheelchair, though it is not possible to get close to the exposures
of rocks in the stream.
The slopes of the valley containing Royd Hall Beck are slippery
and care should be taken
when descending to the stream. For close inspection of the
west bank of the stream,
waterproof footwear is essential. |
