The site we know as Thorner Quarry on Church Hill in Thorner, West Yorkshire,
is set into a sandstone outcrop which was known as Thorne Bank.
(O S Grid Ref SE381407- GPS W001⁰25’22.2” N53⁰51’38.0”)
Our story starts over 300 million years ago in the Permian and Carboniferous periods,with the deposit of mudstones and sandstones that underlie Thorner. Periods of uplifting and erosion created the rock outcrop later to be known as “ Thorne Bank”, and revealed an unconformity in the strata – evidence of a missing interval in the sequence of rocks caused by erosion.
Fast forward to the first century AD, and it’s likely that the Romans built a road that set the route for what is now the
Thorner to Bramham Road, passing by the Thorne Bank. By 1832 a collection of houses had been built against the rock face, some having cellars hewn into the rock, and chimneys leaning against the rock face. The houses were condemned and demolished in the late 1940s. Traces of the houses remain with door and window lintels remaining in the boundary wall, and cellars still visible.
In this field plan of 1735
the site of the quarry is
numbered "F61"
Below is a copy of a plan of 1865 ,
showing houses on the site.
A photograph from around 1900 showing Miss Ada Taylor in front of the doorway of one of the cottages, demolished in the late 1940's.
For over sixty years little was done to maintain the site other than a trimming of undergrowth overhanging the footpath., and in 2015 volunteers cleared some of the self -set shrubs and saplings .In places the boundary wall is in poor condition, and in 2014 a section was rebuilt after collapsing onto the path.
The group believes there are aspects of the site that are worth enhancing and preserving as part of Thorner's heritage : –
GEOLOGICAL –
The site was listed as a Local Geological Site by West Yorkshire Geology Trust, and recognised by Natural England. Because of the opportunity it provides to see the underlying rocks, and the geological unconformity, it is a valuable teaching aid. The West Yorkshire Geology trust were fully supportive of our work to enhance the site, describing the idea as “nationally unique and ground-breaking”.
HISTORICAL -
The remaining signs of the houses from the site – lintels and cellars, are an unusual and curious reminder of how houses were set into the rock face. Thorner & District Historical Society were supportive of our efforts to preserve these aspects.
ECOLOGICAL –
Some site clearance might be required, but there are aspects of the flora and fauna of the site that it would be good to preserve and enhance.
APPEARANCE-
Site improvement could enhance the look of this important gateway to the village conservation area. We worked closely with the landowners of the site – the Mexborough Estate *, and received advice from Leeds City Council specialist officers dealing with
Landscape Conservation, Trees, Ecological aspects , and Highways issues. We also discussed issues with West Yorkshire Police.
The aim was to set up a Charity organisation to lease the site, and obtain grants for maintenance, wall repairs & ecological enhancement, with the , and possibility of small scale archaeological investigation of the house cottage remains . The Group worked closely with the historic land owners, the Mexborough Estates* but their decision to sell the site in 2019 put an end to these plans . The new owners demanded that interpretation panels be removed.
*Mexborough Estates manage 20,000 acres of diverse land and property largely located in Yorkshire.
Their Mission Statement :- "To secure the long term viability and prosperity of the estates for the future, whilst taking into account care for the environment and engagement with the local and wider community ."
Volunteers who started work on clearance of some of the scrub from the site in February 2016.
Clearance sessions revealed a clearer view of the rock face from Church Hill that has been hidden for many years. Passers-by were amazed at the interesting vista this has created.
With support from the Mexborough Estate, permission from Leeds City Council, & Thorner Parish Council , and a grant from Thorner Community Fund 2 interpretation panels were designed erected on site . One covered geological aspects , with input frorm West Yorkshire Geology Trust, the other based on research by Thorner Historical Society. Local artist Michael Brereton painted watercolours used on the panels.
The intention was that a partnership approach between the volunteer group and the Mexborough Estate would maintain the appearance of the site, keeping the rock face visible and making it accessible for occasional organised visits.
Despite there being widespread public support , and the approval from Leeds City Council Planners a small group of Church Hill residents objected to the extent that the Mexborough Estate decided to put the site up for sale.
As a result ownership is now with some of the residents of Church Hill, and their first step was to demand that the interpretation panels be removed . Consideration is being given to re-locating the panels in the village, so as to maintain on public display information relating to the geological features and history of the cottages., but it's difficult to find an acceptable site that offers both easy access within reasonable distance of the quarry location.
The interpretation panels
.
During guided tours in July & November 2016 Bill Fraser and Gareth Martin were able to show how sands had been deposited in tropical river deltas over 300million years ago to form rocks that are now known as "Rough Rock Flags". A short walk up Church Hill revealed evidence of a non conformity in the strata, an outcrop of magnesian limestone, and fossils of primitive life forms called " Stromatolites".
"Fascinating - I'll not look at this in the same way again"......................................" A pleasure listening to experts bring geology to life"......................... were just two of the comments overheard at the end of the visit.
Please e mail us at the address below for details if you are interested in taking part in future visits.
The new owners of the site have cleared some trees shrubs and undergrowth and inserted some planting of non- native species . Overall the site is reverting to its previous forlorn appearance - a sadly neglected aspect of Thorner's heritage at a gateway to the village.
You can contact the group by e mail :- thornerquarry@gmail.com .