Wentbridge Road Cutting

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

STATUS: Local Geological Site
OTHER DESIGNATIONS:
COUNTY: West Yorkshire
DISTRICT: Wakefield
OSGRID REF. SE 487 178 OS 1:50,000 Landranger 111 Sheffield and Doncaster OS 1:25,000 Explorer 278 Sheffield and Barnsley BGS 1:50,000 Sheet 78 Wakefield
FIRST DESIGNATED by West Yorkshire RIGS Group in 1996
DATE OF MOST RECENT SURVEY October 2007 by West Yorkshire Geology Trust
DESIGNATION SHEET UPDATED August 2009

SITE DESCRIPTION: The site lies on either side of a bend in the old A1, now the B 6474, where the road lies in a deep wooded cutting. The east side of the cutting exposes the unconformity between the Upper Carboniferous Ackworth Rock, which is a yellow sandstone, and the overlying Permian Cadeby Formation limestone. Because the rocks are a similar colour, it is not easy to see the unconformity itself, especially as most of the east side of the cutting is overgrown with ivy. To the east of the road is a small quarry in the woods which exposes the Cadeby formation limestones, though it is very overgrown. The access to this is along the track which runs parallel to the road.

HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS: The quarry may have been used as building stone and aggregate for the A1 and for local tracks.

EDUCATIONAL VALUE: Although an important geological site, the proximity of a road and dense overgrowth limit the site to small, well supervised groups.

AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS: The bottom of the road offers good views westwards across the Coal Measures landscape. The woodlands around the cutting are attractive.

ACCESS AND SAFETY: Although roadside parking is possible in the cutting, it is advisable to park in Wentbridge Village and walk to the site. Care needs to be taken at the exposures, because of the traffic. Although the road is wide and there are few cars, they travel at considerable speed and there is limited visibility on the bend.