Huddart, D. & Glasser, N.F. 2007. Quaternary of Northern England. Geological Conservation Review Series No. 25, JNCC, Peterborough, ISBN 1 86107 490 5.
The original source material for these web pages has been made available by the JNCC under the Open Government Licence 3.0. Full details in the JNCC Open Data Policy
D. Huddart Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
and
N.F. Glasser University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK
With contributions from
Jim Innes David Evans John Boardman Silvia Gonzalez Richard Chiverrell Wishart Mitchell Andy Plater Sarah Morriss Cynthia Burek Stephan Harrison Richard Jones Graham Wilson
GCR Editor: G.S.P. Thomas
Published by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Monkstone House, City Road, Peterborough, PE1 1JY, UK
First edition 2002
2002 Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Typeset in 10/12pt Garamond ITC by JNCC
Printed in Great Britain by CLE Print Limited on Huntsman Velvet 100 gsm.
ISBN 1 86107 490 5.
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The National Grid is used on diagrams with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, © Crown copyright licence no. GD 27254X/01/00.
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Recommended example citations
Huddart, D. and Glasser, N.F. et al. (2002) Quaternary of Northern England, Geological Conservation Review Series, No. 25, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.
Glasser, N.F.. (2002) Harwood Dale Moor. In Quaternary of Northern England, Geological Conservation Review Series, No. 25, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough, pp. 81–3.
Acknowledgements
Access to the countryside
Preface
1 Introduction to the Quaternary of northern England N.F. Glasser
Rationale for selection and conservation of Quaternary sites in northern England
Site selection guidelines
Structure of the volume
2 Late Cainozoic environmental change D. Huddart
Introduction
The definition of the base of the Quaternary Period
Divisions of the Quaternary Period
The oxygen isotope record
Ice cores and loess records
North Atlantic sediments
Sea-level change
The Quaternary record in Britain
3 Pre-Quaternary landscape development D. Huddart
Introduction
Tertiary sediments in northern England
Tertiary cover
Erosional history
Conclusion
4 The pre-Devensian glacial and interglacial record
Introduction D. Huddart
The Lower Quaternary
The Middle Quaternary
The Upper Quaternary
Thornsgill and Mosedale J. Boardman
Warren House Gill D. Huddart
Shippersea Bay D. Huddart
Scandal Beck W Mitchell Speeton D.J.A. Evans
Sewerby W.A. Evans
Kelsey Hill D.J.A. Evans
Harwood Dale Moor N.F. Glasser
5 The Devensian glacial record
Introduction D. Huddart and N.F. Glasser
Chelford N.F. Glasser
Four Ashes N.F. Glasser
Dimlington D.J.A. Evans
Aqualate Mere D. Huddart
Thurstaston NE Glasser, S. Gonzalez and D. Huddart
Sandy Bay D. Huddart
The Bradford Kames D. Huddart
Humbleton Hill and the Trows D. Huddart
Ludworth Intake N.F. Glasser
Newtondale and Hole of Horcum N.F. Glasser
Annaside and Gutterby Banks D. Huddart
St Bees D. Huddart
Holm St Cuthbert D. Huddart
Helvellyn J. Boardman
Roman Wall N.F. Glasser
Norber Erratics D. Huddart
Giggleswick Scar D. Huddart
6 The Late-glacial record of northern England
Introduction J. Innes
Low Wray Bay (Windermere) D. Huddart
Blelham Bog D. Huddart
Blea Tarn, Langdale D. Huddart
Tadcaster J. Innes
Gransmoor W.A. Evans
Kildale Hall J. Innes
Hawes Water R. Jones
Crose Mere N.F. Glasser
7 Periglacial landforms and slope deposits of northern England
Introduction N.E Glasser
Stiperstones N.E Glasser
Blackstone Edge N.F. Glasser
Brimham Rocks N.E Glasser
Burbage Brook N.F. Glasser
Wyns Tor N.F. Glasser
Bridestones N.E Glasser
Great Almscliff Crag N.F. Glasser
Cheviot Tors S. Harrison and N.F. Glasser
Ecton N.F. Glasser and C.V. Burek
Throstle Shaw J. Boardman
Sandbeds Fan J. Boardman
Grasmoor J. Boardman
Skiddaw J. Boardman
Cross Fell W. Mitchell and D. Huddart
Wasdale Screes D. Huddart
8 The Holocene (Flandrian) history and record of northern England
Introduction J Innes
Key for the stratigraphical symbols used in the pollen diagrams
Scaleby Moss D. Huddart
Valley Bog D. Huddart
Upper Teesdale D. Huddart
Neasham Fen D. Huddart
Mere Sands Wood R.C. Chiverrell
Martin Mere R. C. Chiverrell
Red Moss R.C. Chiverrell
Skipsea Bail Mere J Innes
Skipsea Withow J. Innes
The Bog, Roos J. Innes
Willow Garth J. Innes
Star Carr S. Gonzalez and D. Huddart
Old Mere, Hornsea N.F. Glasser
Fen Bogs R.C. Chiverrell
Gormire J. Innes and S. Morriss
Thorpe Bulmer J. Innes
Low Hauxley J. Innes
Featherbed Moss D. Huddart
Leash Fen G. Wilson
Lindow Moss S. Gonzalez and D. Huddart
Wybunbury Moss N.F. Glasser
Malham Tarn Moss D. Huddart
Bolton Fell Moss and Walton Moss D. Huddart
Hartlepool A. Plater
Holy Island A. Plater
Lytham D. Huddart
Downholland Moss D. Huddart
Formby Point S. Gonzalez and D. Huddart
Hightown S. Gonzalez and D. Huddart
Castlethorpe D.J.A. Evans
References
Glossary
Glossary of botanical names
Fossil index
General index
Work on this volume was initiated by the Nature Conservancy Council and was taken to completion by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on behalf of the three conservation agencies, the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), English Nature, and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
The present authors were invited to prepare the text for this volume by JNCC in 1998. In this work, numerous peer reviewers and colleagues made helpful suggestions about drafts, or gave helpful advice, information or permission to use photographs or diagrams. In particular we thank all contributors to this volume for their site reports as well as Mike Hambrey for permission to use the photograph reproduced on the front cover of this volume.
We also owe grateful thanks to Geoff Thomas (University of Liverpool) who made a tremendous effort in editing and checking the whole text and who gave us invaluable advice throughout the project.
Thanks are also due to the JNCC GCR Publications Editorial and Production Team: Neil Ellis, Publications Manager and Anita Carter, Production Editor. The diagrams were produced by J S Publications of Newmarket by Drs Susanne White and Chris Pamplin.
Where the content of illustrations has been replicated or modified from the work of others appropriate acknowledgements are given in the captions. The National Grid is used on diagrams with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, © Crown copyright licence no. GD 27254X/01/00. Photographs are accredited in the captions.
Neil Glasser acknowledges the advice and support of former colleagues at Liverpool John Moores University, where this work was initiated, as well as existing colleagues in the Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He also acknowledges the support provided by Mary, who since the initiation of this volume has found time to give birth to no less than three children and complete a PhD thesis of her own.
David Huddart acknowledges the support, encouragement and advice from colleagues at The University of Reading and Trinity College, University of Dublin in the early years of his academic career, especially Peter Worsley, John Whittow, John Allen, David Drew and Frank Mitchell, who stimulated an early interest in the Quaternary of Northern England, especially in glacial sedimentology and environmental archaeology. Colleagues at Liverpool John Moores University are thanked for their encouragement in this project. The following Quaternary scientists are thanked for their valued collaboration over the years: The Merseyside County Archaeologist, Ron Cowell on the prehistoric trackway at Hightown, Gordon Roberts on the footprints at Formby, Adrian Neal (University of Wolverhampton) on the Quaternary evolution of the Formby area , Michael Tooley (University of Kingston) on sea level changes in Cumbria and South-West Lancashire, Michael Hambrey and Matthew Bennett on glacial sediments and landforms. He also acknowledges the support of Silvia for not only giving him space and time for the writing of this volume but also for her collaboration on several of the sites.
This volume is not intended for use as a field guide. The description or mention of any site should not be taken as an indication that access to a site is open. Most sites described are in private ownership, and their inclusion herein is solely for the purpose of justifying their conservation. Their description or appearance on a map in this work should not be construed as an invitation to visit. Prior consent for visits should always be obtained from the landowner and/or occupier.
Information on conservation matters, including site ownership, relating to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or National Nature Reserves (NNRs) in particular counties or districts may be obtained from the relevant country conservation agency headquarters listed below:
Countryside Council for Wales, Plas Penrhos, Ffordd Penrhos, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2LQ.
English Nature, Northminster House, Peterborough PE1 1UA.
Scottish Natural Heritage, 12 Hope Terrace, Edinburgh EH9 2AS.
This rendition of a digital elevation model (DEM) illustrates an extensive suite of drumlins recording former ice flow patterns around the Kendal and Sedbergh area. Classical drumlins are clearest in the mid-west portion of the image (around Kendal) and record ice flowing towards the south-west. In the south-east corner, smaller drumlins, and of more varied morphology, record southwards flow from Cam Fell. In the north-east, drumlins and subglacially-moulded tranverse ridges indicate converging flow eastwards leading into the trunk valley of Wensleydale. It is unlikely that these flows were contemporaneous, but rather that they demonstrate snapshots of flow configuration as the ice cover over the region gradually thinned, leading to greater topographic control on flow pattern. Image provided by C.D. Clark (University of Sheffield), and is a simulated solar shading of an Ordnance Survey, 50 m DEM. Illumination is from the north-west, and the east–west dimension of the image is c. 30 km. For further details of methods see Clark (1997) and for drumlin patterns see Mitchell, (1991b).
There is such a diversity of rocks, minerals, fossils and landforms packed into the piece of the Earth's crust we call 'Britain' that it is difficult not to be impressed by the long, complex history of geological change to which they are testimony. But if we are to improve our understanding of the nature of the geological forces that have shaped our islands, further unravel their history and learn more of the history of life on Earth, we must ensure that the most scientifically important of Britain's geological and geomorphological localities are conserved for future generations to study, research and enjoy. Moreover, as an educational field resource and as training grounds for new generations of geologists and geomorphologists, it is essential that such sites continue to remain available for study. The first step in achieving this goal is to identify the key sites, both at national and local levels.
The GCR, launched in 1977, is a world-first in the systematic selection and documentation of a country's best Earth science sites. No other country has attempted such a comprehensive and systematic review of its Earth science sites on anything near the same scale. After over two decades of site evaluation and documentation, we now have an inventory of over 3000 GCR sites, selected for 100 categories covering the entire range of the geological and geomorphological features of Britain.
This volume, detailing the Quaternary of Northern England GCR sites, is the 25th to be published in the intended 42-volume GCR series. It contains not only descriptions of key localities that will be conserved for their contribution to our understanding of the events during this time, but also excellent summaries of their key morphological, sedimentological and palaeoecological features and the palaeoclimatic significance that can be attached to them. This volume also serves to highlight the scientific research that has been undertaken on these sites. It will be invaluable as an essential reference book to those engaged in the study of Quaternary science and will provide a stimulus for further investigation. It will also be helpful to teachers and lecturers and for those people who, in one way or another, have a vested interest in the GCR sites: owners, occupiers, planners, those concerned with the practicalities of site conservation and indeed the local people for whom such sites are an environmental asset. The conservation value of the sites is mostly based on a specialist understanding of the stratigraphical, palaeontological and sedimentological features present and is therefore, of a technical nature. The account of each site in this book ends, however, with a brief summary of the geological interest, framed in less technical language, in order to help the non-specialist. The first chapter of the volume, used in conjunction with the glossary, is also aimed at a less specialized audience. This volume is not intended to be a field guide to the sites, nor does it cover the practical problems of their ongoing conservation. Its remit is to put on record the scientific justification for conserving the sites.
This volume deals with the state of knowledge of the sites available at the time of writing, in 1998–2002, and must be seen in this context. Quaternary Science, like any other science, is an ever-developing discipline. As new discoveries are made, existing models and paradigms are subject to continual testing and modification as new data come to light. Increased or hitherto unrecognized significance may emerge in new sites, and it is possible that further sites worthy of conservation will be identified in future years. Indeed, during the writing of this volume, a small number of sites were identified by the authors as potential GCR sites that should be considered for conservation in order to more fully represent the Quaternary history of northern England. These sites are described in this volume and are being investigated for formal addition to the GCR.
There is still much to learn about Quaternary environmental change and the sites described in this volume are as important today as they have ever been in increasing our knowledge and understanding of this, the most recent of the geological time periods. This account clearly demonstrates the value of these sites for research, and their important place in Britain's scientific and natural heritage. This, after all, is the raison d'etre of the GCR Series of publications.
N.V. Ellis GCR Publications Manager May 2002