Geological Sites | Leeds
| Bradford | Calderdale
| Kirklees | Wakefield
 STATUS: RIGS
OTHER DESIGNATIONS:
COUNTY: West Yorkshire
DISTRICT: Calderdale
OS GRID REF: SE 080 201
OS 1: 50,000 Landranger Sheet 104 Leeds and Bradford, but note that Stainland
village is on Sheet 110 Sheffield and Huddersfield
1:25,000 Explorer 288 Bradford and Huddersfield
BGS 1:50,000 SHEET 77 Huddersfield Solid and Drift
FIRST DESIGNATED by West Yorkshire RIGS Group in 1996
DATE OF MOST RECENT SURVEY West Yorkshire Geology Trust November 2007
SITE DESCRIPTION
Exposures of Upper Carboniferous Yeadonian Rough Rock and Rough Rock
Flags are revealed in a series of quarry faces forming a 300m edge
north of the village of Stainland. The site displays a range of sedimentary
features including faulting, massive to fine bedding, cross bedding
and horizons of coarse quartz. Some sections illustrate the resistant
qualities of this rock which make it a valuable building stone, particularly
its grain size, structure and mineralogy.
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS:
The quarries were standing (which presumably means that they were not
being actively worked) in 1930, according to the Huddersfield and Halifax
memoir p.199 (reference below), producing building stone. There is
a comment, on p46 of the memoir, that the Rough Rock was largely used
for road setts and curbs in the Halifax area at that time.
The 1927 Rochdale memoir (details below) says on p155 that the Rough
Rock was crushed to obtain sand and gravel for concrete.
 EDUCATIONAL VALUE:
The quarry face to the western end of the site is especially suitable
for geological parties. The flat, grassy areas provide good access
to the rock exposures. There are seats overlooking the valley to the
north, so good views of the geological landscape can be observed. The
eastern end of the quarry is generally inaccessible, though there are
some small footpaths through it.
AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS:
There are good views to Norland Moor to the north.
ACCESS AND SAFETY:
A car park is located in Stainland. Several footpaths lead to the site
from Stainland village (adjacent to the Post Office) through the cricket
and football pitches. Access would be difficult by wheelchair.
The quarry faces may be unsafe, though there is no sign of recent falls.
Hard hats should be worn if the face is approached. However, there are
two stacks of solid rock which have been left away from the face in the
level ground of the quarry, which can be approached safely.
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