Geological Sites | Leeds
| Bradford | Calderdale
| Kirklees | Wakefield
 STATUS:
Local Geological Sites
OTHER DESIGNATIONS:
COUNTY: West Yorkshire
DISTRICT: Calderdale
OS GRID REF. SE 103 252 to 103 259
OS 1:50,000 Landranger 104 Leeds and Bradford
OS 1:25,000 Explorer 288 Bradford and Huddersfield
BGS 1:50,000 Sheet 77 Huddersfield (Solid and Drift)
FIRST DESIGNATED by West Yorkshire LGS Group in 1996
MOST RECENT SURVEY West Yorkshire Geology Trust January 2009
DESIGNATION SHEET UPDATED August 2009
SITE DESCRIPTION
Beacon Hill forms an escarpment topped by Upper Carboniferous Elland
Flags, which
are exposed on the footpath near the Beacon. The steep slope which descends
into
Halifax is made of mudstones, silts and minor sandstones beds, which
are generally less
resistant to weathering and erosion than the Elland Flags. There are
Elland Flag quarries
on the top of Beacon Hill. Silts and mudstones are exposed at the north
end of Beacon
Hill, in a large quarry occupied by various factory buildings. Godley
Cutting, which is
occupied by the A58 from Halifax to Hipperholme, exposes an excellent
sequence of
mudstones and silts.
 HISTORICAL
ASSOCIATIONS:
There is a long history of coal mining in the area, with the Lister family
of Shibden Hall
being the owners of the mines. The south side of Godley Cutting has three
adits (tunnels)
which exploited the thin coal seams. These are openings into chambers
in which pillar
and stall mining has taken place. Mudstone has been extracted for brick-making
at the
north end of Beacon Hill and there is a record in White’s Directory
1894 that Swan Bank
coal and Brick Company, Bailey Hall Road was operating then. There are
some sizable
Judd walls on the top of Beacon Hill, which show that sandstone waste
has accumulated
as a result of quarrying on top of the hill.
EDUCATIONAL VALUE:
This area is suitable for small groups of secondary students or adults
to observe Upper
Carboniferous sedimentation.
Beacon Hill is a suitable vantage point for observing the geology and
landscape of the
Halifax district. Access to Godley Cutting should be maintained for
research purposes.
AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS:
There are extensive panoramic views to the west towards the Calder
valley and north into
the Shibden valley.
ACCESS AND SAFETY:
There is a lay-by suitable for a minibus at SE 103 258 (Shibden Hall
Road). Exposures
in Godley Cutting are best observed from Horley Green Road and
Shibden Hall Road
(binoculars are useful). Keep to pavements at all times as minor
roads are busy bus
routes. |
