Geological Sites | Leeds
| Bradford | Calderdale
| Kirklees | Wakefield
 STATUS: RIGS
OTHER DESIGNATIONS:
COUNTY: West Yorkshire
DISTRICT: Leeds
OS GRID REF. SE 319 363
OS 1:50,000 Landranger 104 Leeds and Bradford
OS 1:25,000 EXPLORER 289 Leeds
BGS 1:50,000 Sheet 70 Leeds
FIRST DESIGNATED West Yorkshire RIGS Group in 1997
DATE OF MOST RECENT SURVEY December 2007 by West Yorkshire Geology Trust
SITE DESCRIPTION:
This is the site of a former stone quarry. Although no solid exposures
are visible there are a number of large blocks of Upper Carboniferous
Langsettian (Lower Coal Measures) Elland Flags which display various
styles of bedding, variable grain sizes as well as structures such
as ripple marks.
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS:
This is one of the few remaining pieces of evidence of a once major industry
of Leeds. Records tell of 10m high quarry faces producing stone for the
rapidly expanding city. While it is difficult to link stone from this
quarry to anyone particular building it probably provided thousands of
stone lintels, door steps, staircases etc. One of the remaining blocks
clearly shows the way in which it was being split by hand worked methods
with plugs and feathers.
Tesco and Homebase stores on Roundhay Road are both largely built within
other old quarries in the Elland Flags and blocks of waste stone are
visible in the rather overgrown areas between and behind the stores.
EDUCATIONAL VALUE:
This site is probably most valuable for primary level and is a good site
to demonstrate bedding, rock types, textures and structures of sandstones.
Its historical importance is also worth investigating.
AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS:
The site is set in pleasant woodland.
ACCESS AND SAFETY:
Roadside parking is possible on Gledhow Valley Road. There is safe and
easy access to exposures, though the footpaths are rather rough for wheelchairs.
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