tvrigs.org.uk » Ravenscar

Gallery

cliff.rigg — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:12:23 +0000

Below is a gallery of our recent events. Fancy joining us in the future? Try our upcoming events page.

2011

2010

Ravenscar and Stoupe Brow Walk.

cliff.rigg — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 15:26:58 +0000

On humid, still Summer’s day nineteen lucky people enjoyed beautiful views on this walk between Ravenscar and Stoupe Brow alum quarries.

Carved waymark near the start of the Ravenscar Alum Trail.

Arched bridge carrying the former railway over a cut east of the brickworks.
© Peter Appleton 2010.

Barrel (outlined) buried in the track on entry to former alum quarries near Ravenscar.

Members of the group explore the former alum shale quarry floor littered with boulders from the overlying deltaic Saltwick Formation.

Former worked alum shale quarry face near Ravenscar.
© Peter Appleton 2010.

Walking along the former railway between Ravenscar and Stoupe Brow.

View of Robin Hood's Bay from the former railway.
© Peter Appleton 2010.

The group stopped for lunch in Stoupe Brow quarry.

View of Robin Hood's Bay from the upper level of Stoupe Brow quarry.

Descending the hill from Stoupe Brow quarries toward the bay-side cliffs.

View of Stoupe Brow quarries (indicated) from the cliff alongside the Bay.

View of the headland at Ravenscar en-route to the alum house remains.

The curving scar at Robin Hood's Bay demonstrating the local dome structure. Picture by John Werbiski.

Winch at the top of the former incline along which goods travelled between the alum house and the foreshore below.

Remains of the former alum house. The most complete remains to be found in the area.
© Peter Appleton 2010.

Past Events and Activities

cliff.rigg — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 12:50:20 +0000

Below is a list of events and activities already completed by the RIGS Group during the Alum, Alchemy and Ammonites project. Click on the links to view images of these events.

2011

Monday 4th July 2011 – Cowbar Foreshore – Ammonite Hunt.
Saturday 18th June 2011 – Guided Walk Training – Margrove Heritage Center.
Thursday 16th June 2011 – Gribdale Gate – Ayton Banks and Roseberry Topping.
Friday 3rd June 2011Loftus Quarries – Coastal Alum Walk.
Monday 23rd May 2011 Danby – Clitherbeck Coals
Wednesday 11th May 2011 Littlebeck – Alum Works Walk
Wednesday 27th April 2011 Errington – Upleatham Circular
Thursday 7th April 2011 Alum Works Owners – The Dundas Family.
Wednesday 30th March 2011 Alum Works Owners – Mulgrave Estate.
Monday 20th March 2011 Whitby – Port Development.
Friday 18th March 2011 Coatham and Dabholme – Alum Ports.
Thursday 10th March 2011 – Loftus – The Miner’s Way.
Thursday 17th February 2011 Hartlepool – Alum Port.
Tuesday 15th February 2011 Slapewath – The First Alum Works.
Friday 4th February 2011 Guisborough -The Chaloner Family.
Tuesday 18th January 2011 Clay Bank – Wainstones Wander.
Wednesday 12th January 2011 Saltburn – The Lost Alum Works of Saltburn.

2010

Friday 29th January 2010 Guisborough Forest – Lost Industry Wander.
Tuesday 2nd February 2010 Loftus and Hummersea – Hunton & Hummersea.
Monday 8th February 2010 Capt. Cook’s Monument – A Right Royal Monopoly.
Monday 15th February 2010 Slapewath -Slapewath Alum Walk.
Thursday 4th March 2010 Sandsend – Sandsend to Kettleness Alum Walk.
Tuesday 9th March 2010 Loftus – Myths, Magic & Monsters.
Wednesday 17th March 2010 Guisborough – Chaloner Circuit.
Monday 22nd March 2010 Boulby – Boulby Alum Works.
Thursday 1st April 2010 Saltburn – Saltburn Alum Walk.
14th – 16th April 2010 Saltburn, Eston & Margrove – Rock & Fossil Roadshows.
Friday 23rd April 2010 Margrove – Airy Hill Amble.
Wednesday 28th April 2010 Carlton-in-Cleveland – Carlton Bank.
Wednesday 12th May 2010 Hartlepool – Hartlepool History.
Monday 17th May 2010 Whitby – Saltwick Bay.
Thursday 27th May 2010 New Marske – Errington Woods Walk.
Wednesday 2nd June 2010 Redcar – Family Fossil Fossick.
Friday 11th June 2010 Redcar – Coals from Coatham.
Monday 14th June 2010 Whitby – Whitby Wander.
Monday 28th June 2010 Ravenscar – Ravenscar and Stoupe Brow Walk.
Tuesday 3th July 2010 Slapewath – Slapewath Circular.
Thursday 5th August 2010 Runswick Bay – Runswick to Port Mulgrave.
5th, 11th, 17th & 19th August 2010 Rock & Fossil Roadshows – Various venues.
Friday 27th August 2010 Loftus – Hunton & Hummersea.
Wednesday 1st September 2010 Sandsend – Mulgrave Alum Walk.
Saturday 4th September 2010 Margrove Park – Natural Dye Course.
Wednesday 8th September 2010 Gribdale – Ayton Banks Alum Walk.
Thursday 16th September 2010 Loftus – Loftus Alum Walk.
Saturday 25th September 2010 Middlesbrough College – Alum: It’s History and Mystery (Day School).
Tuesday 5th October 2010 Littlebeck – Eskdale Alum Walk.
Monday 11th October 2010 Saltburn – Skinningrove Walk.
Tuesday 19th October 2010 Danby – Clitherbeck Coals.
Wednesday 3rd November 2010 Sandsend – Sandsend & Kettleness Alum Works.
Thursday 18th November 2010 Slapewath – Guisbrough Forest Lost Industry Wander.
Monday 13th December 2010 Yarm – Trade on the Tees.

Home page

cliff.rigg — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:50:03 +0000

Welcome to the Tees Valley RIGS Group Website.

The place for you to find out more about the geology and industrial heritage of Redcar & Cleveland, Middlesbrough,
Stockton, Hartlepool and Darlington.

Alum, Alchemy and Ammonites Page

Future Events Page

Past Events Page

Why not check out our new site description pages and geo-trails

Boulby – Cowbar Hummersea
Loftus Quarries Boulby Quarry

Latest News

RIGS News

Tuesday 8th November 2011: November’s Rock of the Month offering can now be viewed by clicking here…

Thursday 13th October 2011: The RIGS Group’s recently published Geodiversity Action Plan has been recognised and used as a case study by Geoconservation UK. More details can be seen here and by clicking on the navigation bar at the top of this page.

Wednesday 12th October 2011: Why not view Tees Valley Wildlife Trust’s Alum, Alchemy & Ammonites pages.

Wednesday 1st June 2011: Our latest Rock of the Month article is now online. We would like to thank RIGS Group member Scott Bradley for providing the article.

The group’s expansion into the Darlington district is approaching the end of its first phase. A number of sites have been identified and five summarily surveyed.

Announcements

For details concerning the next RIGS meeting please contact the RIGS Group by e-mail.

Ramblers walking with the RIGS Group descend Boulby Bank after visiting cliff-side alum quarries near Staithes.

TVRIGS are always keen to recruit new members. So if you have an interest in the region’s geology, would like to find out more about the Tees Valley’s industrial heritage, or simply wonder what all of the fuss is about, then why not join us, it’s free – and we have only the very best biscuits at our meetings…

Woodhill Gill

admin — Sat, 20 Sep 2003 18:43:11 +0000

Contents

Site Description
Site Map
Site Assessment
Surveyors

Grid Reference NZ 655 132
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS

Site Description

Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Upland stream-side escarpment revealing deltaic sandstones specifically the Moor Grit member of the Scalby formation
Literature References

Site Map

Site Assessment

Access and Safety	Comments	Rating
Safety of access	Along designated footpath	10
Safety of exposure	Steep slopes obscured by vegetation	5
Restricting conditions	Vegetation growth in summer months	6
Multiple exposure	None
Note	It is strongly suggested that on-site safety be the responsibility of the party leader(s), as the safety information above is given only as a guide.

Education and Science	Comments	Rating
Surface processes	Upland fluvial and glacial features	6
Geomorphology	V-shaped valley feature	6
Sedimentary rock	Moor Grit member of the Scalby formation	10
Igneous rock	None
Metamorphic rock	None
Fossils	None
Minerals	None specific
Structural features	None found due to small exposure
Stratigraphy	Current bedding features	5

Geodiversity Value	Comments	Rating
Education	Upland geomorphological features	8
Scientific	Study by Earth scientists	5
Historical	None
Aesthetic	Excellent views of glaciated valley	10

Surveyors

Andrew Carter, Andrew Cooper, Stephanie Henderson, Carl Rees-Davies

Cass Rock Quarry

admin — Sat, 20 Sep 2003 17:30:07 +0000

Contents

Site Description
Site Map
Summary Evaluation of Site’s Value and Importance
Surveyors

Grid Reference NZ 631 146
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Guisborough Forest 30/09/2003

Site Description

Site Status SNCI

Brief Site Description Site 7 of 7. Disused alum quarry revealing exposures of Liassic Whitby mudstone and overlying Middle Jurassic Saltwick sandstone. Following abandonment after alum working, this quarry was used as a dump for ironstone spoil from mines around Slapewath. Shale was transported via an aerial ropeway.

Literature References Guisborough District Mines – Simon Chapman 2001

Site Map

Summary Evaluation of Site’s Value and Importance

Scientific Value
The sites in this group exhibit diverse examples of Liassic (Lower Jurassic) and Middle Jurassic deltaic deposits along with industrial archaeological remains.

Historical Value
Various industrial archaeological remains at the seven sites including ironstone extraction, the earliest alum quarries in England, and nineteenth century jet mining. Cass Rock Quarry was worked for alum shale between 1776 and 1805.

Aesthetic Value
From its vantage point high on the escarpment of the Cleveland Hills, Cass Rock Quarry provides an ideal vantage point giving commanding views of East Cleveland and the coast.

Educational Value
Situated beside the Cleveland Way to the east of Guisbrough Forest, Cass Rock is potentially a good site at which to examine Upper Liassic shales, Middle Jurassic sandstone, and explore the site of a former alum quarry. Nature has reclaimed this quarry and care should be exercised around vertical faces.

Surveyors

Andrew Carter, John Waring

Easington Beck

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2003 17:09:05 +0000

Contents

Site Description
Site Map
Site Assessment
Surveyors

Grid Reference NZ 749 162
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS 30/09/2003

Site Description

Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Upland river cutting through deltaic sandstone revealing river-cliffs and waterfalls. Exposures include Saltwick sandstone, Dogger and Whitby mudstone formations
Literature References

Site Map

Site Assessment

Access and Safety	Comments	Rating
Safety of access	From footbridge and along stream bank	8
Safety of exposure	Slippery on waterfall features and 6m vertical drop	4
Restricting conditions	High flow episodes and adverse weather	5
Multiple exposure	Reach of Easington Beck	10
Note	It is strongly suggested that on-site safety be the responsibility of the party leader(s), as the safety information above is given only as a guide.

Education and Science	Comments	Rating
Surface processes	Various fluvial processes	10
Geomorphology	V-shaped valley upstream, downstream examples of river gorges and waterfalls	10
Sedimentary rock	Lias and Ravenscar groups (including rare Dogger exposure below the Saltwick formation)	10
Igneous rock	Glacial erratics in stream bed	2
Metamorphic rock	Glacial erratics in stream bed	2
Fossils	Various trace fossils throughout river reach	5
Minerals	Tufa (including stalactites), Calcite and Iron oxide weathering	8
Structural features	Various examples of faulting through river reach	5
Stratigraphy	Sheet jointing in Eller Beck formation	5

Geodiversity Value	Comments	Rating
Education	Excellent for fluvial processes but very difficult access	8
Scientific	Site of special interest for Earth scientists	10
Historical	None
Aesthetic	Excellent fluvial environment in wooded steep sided gorge	10

Surveyors

Andrew Carter, Andrew Cooper, Carl Rees-Davies

Wiley Cat Beck

admin — Thu, 28 Aug 2003 12:04:45 +0000

Contents

Site Description
Site Map
Site Assessment
Surveyors

Grid Reference NZ 643 145
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS 30/09/03

Site Description

Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity Upland river gorge revealing exposures of Saltwick sandstone with a beck cutting steeply through the profile
Literature References

Site Map

Site Assessment

Access and Safety	Comments	Rating
Safety of access	Along designated footpath	8
Safety of exposure	Steep-sided valley, overhangs in places	6
Restricting conditions	High-flow episodes	9
Multiple exposure	None
Note	It is strongly suggested that on-site safety be the responsibility of the party leader(s), as the safety information above is given only as a guide.

Education and Science	Comments	Rating
Surface processes	Various upland fluvial processes and biological weathering examples	10
Geomorphology	Numerous waterfalls	10
Sedimentary rock	Saltwick sandstone formation	10
Igneous rock	None
Metamorphic rock	None
Fossils	Limited trace fossils	2
Minerals	Iron oxide weathering rinds	8
Structural features	Numerous vertical faults	7
Stratigraphy	Current bedded Saltwick sandstone	6

Geodiversity Value	Comments	Rating
Education	Upland fluvial geomorphological study	9
Scientific	Study by Earth scientists	7
Historical	None
Aesthetic	Spectacular upland stream	10

Surveyors

Andrew Carter, Andrew Cooper and Carl Rees-Davies

Whitecliff Wood

admin — Tue, 12 Aug 2003 21:26:08 +0000

Contents

Site Description
Site Map
Site Assessment
Surveyors

Grid Reference NZ 715 182
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS

Site Description

Site Status
Description of Geodiversity River cliff exposures of massive Saltwick sandstone forming cliffs and escarpments
Literature References

Site Map

Site Assessment

Access and Safety	Comments	Rating
Safety of access	Descend to stream level via housing estate	8
Safety of exposure	Slippery bank, no footpath	5
Restricting conditions	High flow episodes	5
Multiple exposure	None
Note	It is strongly suggested that on-site safety be the responsibility of the party leader(s), as the safety information above is given only as a guide.

Education and Science	Comments	Rating
Surface processes	Various fluvial processes	7
Geomorphology	Various fluvial features	6
Sedimentary rock	Saltwick sandstone	10
Igneous rock	Erratics in stream bed	5
Metamorphic rock	Erratics in stream bed	5
Fossils	Trace fossils, plant remains	7
Minerals	Iron oxide weathering	5
Structural features	Faulting	5
Stratigraphy	Current bedded Saltwick sandstone	7

Geodiversity Value	Comments	Rating
Education	Limited educational value	4
Scientific	Study by Earth scientists	7
Historical	None
Aesthetic	Steep sided river gorge	5

Surveyors

Andrew Carter, Andrew Cooper

Belmont Bank

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2003 16:59:23 +0000

Contents

Site Description
Site Map
Site Assessment
Surveyors

Grid Reference NZ 622 148
BGS Sheet 34
OS Sheet 94
Forwarded as RIGS Part of Guisborough Forest 30/09/2003

Site Description

Site Status SNCI
Description of Geodiversity North facing escarpment revealing few exposures. Underlying geology is Staithes sandstone, Cleveland ironstone, Whitby mudstone overlain by the Saltwick sandstone formation. Old mine tips now wooded
Literature References Guisborough District Mines – Simon Chapman 2001
The Floating Egg – Roger Osbourne 1998

Site Map

Site Assessment

Access and Safety	Comments	Rating
Safety of access	Via Belman Gate up footpath	10
Safety of exposure	Safe footpath	10
Restricting conditions	None
Multiple exposure	Various exposure in Guisborough Forest	10
Note	It is strongly suggested that on-site safety be the responsibility of the party leader(s), as the safety information above is given only as a guide.

Education and Science	Comments	Rating
Surface processes	None observable
Geomorphology	Glacial features	7
Sedimentary rock	Poor exposures	3
Igneous rock	None
Metamorphic rock	None
Fossils	None specific due poor exposures
Minerals	None specific
Structural features	None specific due poor exposures
Stratigraphy	None specific due poor exposures

Geodiversity Value	Comments	Rating
Education	Limited educational value	2
Scientific	Limited due to poor exposures	2
Historical	Early Alum quarry dating back to seventeenth century. More recently ironstone mining (Belmont mine) can be observed	10
Aesthetic	Wooded escarpment	10

Surveyors

Denis Goldring