Gledhow Valley, Leeds

Geological Sites | Leeds | Bradford | Calderdale | Kirklees | Wakefield

STATUS: Local Geological Site
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
DESIGNATION SHEET UPDATED August 2009

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.