Table Of ContentCaledonian Structures
in Britain
THE GEOLOGICAL CONSERVATION REVIEW SERIES
The comparatively small land area of Great Britain contains an unrivalled sequence
of rocks, mineral and fossil deposits, and a variety of landforms that span much of
the earth's long history. Well-documented ancient volcanic episodes, famous fossil
sites, and sedimentary rock sections used internationally as comparative standards,
have given these islands an importance out of all proportion to their size. These long
sequences of strata and their organic and inorganic contents, have been studied by
generations of leading geologists thus giving Britain a unique status in the
development of the science. Many of the divisions of geological time used
throughout the world are named after British sites or areas, for instance the
Cambrian, Ordovician and Devonian systems, the Ludlow Series and the
Kimmeridgian and Portlandian stages.
The Geological Conservation Review (GCR) was initiated by the Nature
Conservancy Council in 1977 to assess, document, and ultimately publish accounts of
the most important parts of this rich heritage. Since 1991 the task of publication has
been assumed by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on behalf of the three
country conservation agencies, English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and the
Countryside Council for Wales. The GCR series of volumes will review the current
state of knowledge of the key earth-science sites in Great Britain and provide a firm
basis on which site conservation can be founded in years to come. Each GCR volume
will describe and assess networks of sites in the context of a portion of the
geological column, or a geological, palaeontological, or mineralogical topic. The full
series of approximately 50 volumes will be published by the year 2000.
Within each individual volume, every GCR locality is described in detail in a self-
contained account, consisting of highlights (a precis of the special interest of the
site), an introduction (with a concise history of previous work), a description, an
interpretation (assessing the fundamentals of the site's scientific interest and
importance), and a conclusion (written in simpler terms for the non-specialist). Each
site report is a justification of a particular scientific interest at a locality, of its
importance in a British or international setting, and ultimately of its worthiness for
conservation.
The aim of the Geological Conservation Review series is to provide a public
record of the features of interest in sites being considered for notification as Sites of
Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). It is written to the highest scientific standards but
in such a way that the assessment and conservation value of the site is clear. It is a
public statement of the value set on our geological and geomorphological heritage
by the earth-science community which has participated in its production, and it will
be used by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, English Nature, the
Countryside Council for Wales, and Scottish Natural Heritage in carrying out their
conservation functions.
All the sites in this volume have been proposed for notification as SSSIs, the final
decision to notify or renotify lies with the governing Councils of the appropriate
country conservation agency.
Information about the GCR publication programme may be obtained from:
Earth Science Branch,
Joint Nature Conservation Committee,
Monkstone House,
City Road,
Peterborough PE1 1JY.
Titles in the series
1. Geological Conservation Review
An introduction
2. Quaternary of Wales
S. Campbell and D. Q. Bowen
3. Caledonian Structures in Britain
South of the Midland Valley
Edited by J. E. Treagus
4. British Tertiary Volcanic Province
Edited by C. H. Emeleus and M. C. Gyopari
Caledonian
Structures
in Britain
South of the Midland Valley
Edited by
J. E. Treagus
Department of Geology,
The University, Manchester
GCR editor: W. A. Wimbledon
J O I NT
NATURE
CONSERVATION
COMMITTEE
EJ
SPRINGER-SCIENCE+BUSINESS MEDIA, B.V.
First edition 1992
© 1992 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
Originally published by Chapman & Hall in 1992
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1992
Typeset in 10/12 Garamond by Columns Design & Production Services Ltd, Reading
ISBN 978-94-010-5013-5 ISBN 978-94-011-2288-7 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-94-011-2288-7
Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as
permitted under the UK Copyright Designs and Patents Act, 1988, this publication may not be reproduced,
stored, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the
publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction only in accordance with the terms of the licences
issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency in the UK, or in accordance with the terms of licences issued by
the appropriate Reproduction Rights Organization outside the UK. Enquiries concerning reproduction
outside the terms stated here should be sent to the publishers at the London address printed on this page.
The publisher makes no representation, express or implied, with regard to the accuracy of the
information contained in this book and cannot accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or
omissions that may be made.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data available
Contents
Contributors ix
Ac1mowledgements x
Access to the countryside xi,
Preface xii
1 Caledonian structures 1
Introduction J. E. Treagus 3
The Caledonian Orogenic Belt J. E. Treagus 3
The British Caledonides J. E. Treagus 3
Scottish Highlands J. E. Treagus 3
Midland Valley J. E. Treagus 5
Southern Uplands J. E. Treagus 5
Lake District J. E. Treagus 5
Wales J. E. Treagus 5
Conclusions J. E. Treagus 8
2 Southern Uplands 9
Introduction - a structural perspective J. E. Treagus 11
Siccar Point J. E. Treagus 17
John's Road and Agate Point J. E. Treagus 19
Barlocco J. E. Treagus 22
Cruggleton Bay North J. E. Treagus 25
Isle of Whithorn Bay J. E. Treagus 28
West Burrow Head J. E. Treagus 33
Back Bay, Monreith J. E. Treagus 35
Grennan Bay J. E. Treagus 38
3 Lake District 43
Introduction K Fraser, F. Moseley andJ . E. Treagus 45
Buttermere Village F. Moseley 56
Hassness and Goat Crags B. C. Webb 58
Gasgale Crags and Whiteside A. H. Cooper 64
River Cal dew D. E. Roberts 67
Raven Crags, Mungrisdale D. E. Roberts 70
Warnscale Bottom, Buttermere F. Moseley 73
Hollows Farm F. Moseley 75
vii
Contents
Limestone Haws to High Pike Haw, Coniston F. Moseley 77
Shap Fell F. Moseley 82
Jeffrey's Mount, Tebay F. Moseley 87
Helwith Bridge J E. Treagus 89
Jumb Quarry A. M. Bell 91
4 Wales 95
Introduction - a structural perspective W R. Fitches 97
Alexandra Quarry R. Scott 104
Trum y Ddysgl R. Scott 108
Cwm Idwal W R. Fitches 110
Capel Curig R. Scott 116
Tan y Grisiau R. Scott 118
Ogof Gynfor D. E. B. Bates 120
Rhosneigr R. Scott 122
Cwm Rheidol W R. Fitches 126
AlIt Wen W R. Fitches 128
North Clarach W R. Fitches 132
Cormorant Rock W R. Fitches 134
Ponterwyd Quarry W R. Fitches 136
Traeth Penbryn W R. Fitches 139
Ca'er-hafod Quarry, Uangollen R. Nicholson 140
Uigwy Bay R. Scott 145
Carmel Head D. E. B. Bates 148
Uanelwedd Quarry N H. Woodcock 151
Dolyhir Quarries, Old Radnor N H. Woodcock 154
References 159
Index 171
viii
Contributors
Dr D. E. B. Bates Institute of Earth Studies, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth,
Dyfed, SY23 3DB.
Dr A. M. Bell 143 Graham St, Penrith, Cumbria, CAll 9LG.
Dr A. H. Cooper British Geological Survey, Windsor Court, Windsor Terrace,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HE.
Dr W R. Fitches Institute of Earth Studies, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth,
Dyfed, SY23 3DB.
Dr F Moseley 89 Cambridge Rd, Birmingham, B13 9UG.
Dr R. Nicholson Department of Geology, The University, Manchester, M13 9PL.
Dr D. E. Roberts Department of Earth Sciences, Staffordshire PolytechniC, College Rd,
Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2DE.
Dr R. Scott Department of Earth Sciences, Downing St, The UniverSity, Cambridge,
CB23EQ.
Dr j. E. Treagus Department of Geology, The University, Manchester, M13 9PL.
Dr B. C. Webb 1 Grassfield Cottages, Nenthead, Nr Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3EQ.
Dr N H. Woodcock Department of Earth SCiences, Downing St, The University,
Cambridge, CB2 3EQ.
ix
Acknowledgements
Work on this volume was initiated by the Nature Conservancy Council and has been
seen to completion by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee ONCC), acting on
behalf of the three country conservation agencies, English Nature, Scottish Natural
Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales.
Each site description bears the name of its author, but we would like to
acknowledge the many colleagues who gave help and advice. In particular, we
would like to thank Professor P. Stringer, Drs A. E. S. Kemp, J. A. McCurry, N. J. Soper
and B. C. Webb for their assistance. Dr L. E. Richards of the Nature Conservancy
Council was responsible for the volume in its early stages. Drs]. E. Treagus, F.
Moseley and W. R. Fitches initially selected and edited the accounts of the sites of the
Southern Uplands, Lake District, and Wales, respectively. Dr K. Fraser was employed
for six months in 1988 to word-process and to assist Dr Treagus in editing the first
draft of the volume. Dr P. H. Banham, Dr N. H. Woodcock and Professor]. L. Knill
scrutinized the subsequent text, and some later GCR editing was undertaken by Dr
W. A. Wimbledon.
Thanks also go to the GCR publication production team: Dr D. O'Halloran (Project
Manager); Valerie Wyld (Sub-editor); Nicholas D. W. Davey (Cartographic editor);
and Caroline Mee (Administrative assistant). Computerized cartographical illustrations
were produced by Silhouette (Peterborough).
x
Acccess to the Countryside
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 or that a
right of way exists. 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 in no way 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:
Scottish Natural Heritage,
12 Hope Terrace,
Edinburgh EH9 2AS.
Countryside Council for Wales,
Plas Penrhos,
Ffordd Penrhos,
Bangor,
Gwynedd LL57 2LQ.
English Nature,
Northminster House,
Peterborough PEl 1U A.
xi
