Geological Sites | Leeds
| Bradford | Calderdale
| Kirklees | Wakefield
 STATUS: RIGS
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
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.
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