Local Geology

This section includes a number of local geology articles that have been reproduced from the Mercian Geologist in .pdf format (the latest Adobe Acrobat reader can be downloaded from the link at the bottom of this page).

Peat subsidence at the Holme Post
The fenlands along the eastern borders of the East Midlands are Britain's largest area of peat soils. Prized by the farmer for their rich organic soil, the fens are only useable and inhabitable when the natural marshes have been drained. But peat is dreaded by the engineer because it is weak, compressible and highly shrinkable. When peat lands are drained, the ground surface subsides. It's a phenomenon known world wide, and the world's finest record of land subsidence on peat is provided by the Holme Post, just 9 km due south of Peterborough cathedral.

The Holme Post (PDF File size 410Kb)

Waltham, T. (2001) The Holme Post. Mercian Geologist, 15 (1), 49-51.

The explosion crater at Fauld
While in no way a natural feature, the huge crater above the Fauld gypsum mine, 8 km northwest of Burton upon Trent, is one of the more bizarre components of the East Midlands landscape. It originated in one of the world' largest explosions of wartime munitions, which were being stored in the old mine. The site has changed little since then, and still warrants a visit; there is nothing else like it in Britain.

The Fauld Crater (PDF File size 536Kb)

For a colour picture of the Fauld Crater click here

Waltham, T. (2001) The Fauld Crater. Mercian Geologist, 15 (2), 123-125.

The Hemlock Stone and Society logo
One of the East Midlands' most well-known geological landmarks, the Hemlock Stone is of course very familiar to Mercian Geologist readers, having adorned the cover of each individual part of Volumes 13 and 14. The Hemlock Stone now sits proudly in the centre of the Society's new logo, so it seems fitting to choose the Stone as the subject of this issue's 'From the Archives'.

The Hemlock Stone and Society logo (PDF File size 386Kb)

Howard, A. (2002) The Hemlock Stone. Mercian Geologist, 15 (3), 153-154.

Further information about the Hemlock Stone picture within the above pdf file - click here
(thanks to Des Sheridan from Spondon, Derby)

The reef at High Tor
Impossible to miss where it looms over the A6 highway into the Peak District, High Tor is well known as a fine example of a Carboniferous reef - known more precisely as a carbonate mud mound.

The reef at High Tor (webpage link - to the full article)

Gutteridge, P. (2003) The reef at High Tor. Mercian Geologist, 15 (4), 235-237

Castle Rock
To many observers, Castle Rock may appear just as the lump of ground that the castle or its successors stand on. But the rock itself is a major geological landmark in the city, with its bare sandstone cliff rising 38 m to the castle terrace.

Castle Rock (webpage link - to the full article)

Waltham,T. & Howard,A. (2004) Castle Rock. Mercian Geologist, 16 (1), 37-42

Nottingham Market Square
Britain’s largest market square has been re-vamped. Modern, expensive, trendy, bleak, dramatic, sterile, futuristic, wasteful - different people each have their own views. But now that it’s all finished, we can peruse the new geological delights of the city centre.

Nottingham Market Square (PDF File size 150Kb)

Turner,N. & Waltham,T. (2007) Nottingham Market Square. Mercian Geologist, 16 (4), 289

Conservation of the cave statues in the Nottingham sandstone
Without doubt the finest single feature within the sandstone caves that underlie Nottingham is the group of statues depicting “Daniel in the Lions’ Den”, which lie inside a cave cut into the sandstone escarpment overlooking The Park from the northeast. These lifesize statues are a real work of art, carved from bedrock in the back wall of a cave excavated under the garden of Alderman Thomas Herbert some time in the mid- 1800s (Waltham, 1996). Sadly, they are suffering from the ravages of time, and a measure of conservation was becoming appropriate. The owner of the site was unable to take action, and the city of Nottingham takes almost no interest in its cave heritage (this cave has no listed status, unlike six elsewhere under the city), so the East Midlands Geological Society stepped in.

Conservation of the cave statues in the Nottingham sandstone (PDF File size 197Kb)

Waltham,T. (2007) Conservation of the cave statues in the Nottingham sandstone. Mercian Geologist, 16 (4), 278-279

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