Woolley Edge Quarry

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

STATUS: Local Geological Site
OTHER DESIGNATIONS:
COUNTY: West Yorkshire
DISTRICT: Wakefield
OS GRID REF. 308 137 OS 1:50,000 Landranger 110 Sheffield and Huddersfield 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 two extensive quarry faces lie on either side of Common Lane giving good views of the Woolley Edge Rock, which is a massive Coal Measure sandstone. The quarry below the road to the north-west has faces up to 10m high showing massive bedding and other sedimentary structures. The quarry to the south east of the road was formerly a picnic site and there are still some paths through the woods, which give access to the rock faces, which are about 7m high. Some sections are overgrown. The rocks contain interesting sedimentary features.

HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONS: Both quarries are very large and would have been used for building stone and aggregate in the local area, probably much of the stone being used in Wakefield. There is a comment in the Wakefield Geological Memoir (details below) p9 which mentions that Woolley Edge Rock was used for building stone, road stone and walls.

EDUCATIONAL VALUE: The site would need clearing and access improving, to make it suitable for educational use.

AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS: Some areas of the site have been used as a picnic areas and it is a roadside nature reserve. However, the faces are very overgrown and there is only access to them in a few places. The quarry on the north-west side of the road is disfigured by paint and there is a lot of domestic rubbish all along the quarry faces. The elevated position of Woolley Edge gives panoramic views to the south and west across the Coal Measures landscape towards the Pennines.

ACCESS AND SAFETY: There are several car parks adjacent to the site. The exposure to the south east of Common Lane is overgrown and needs clearing. One section of the face has been cleared and is used by climbers. The exposure to the north of Common Lane is less overgrown but needs improved access as the site is reached down a steep slope from the road. Both contain a lot of dumped rubbish. Hard hats would be needed close to the rock faces. Neither site is accessible for wheelchairs.