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| A geological map of the area between Treeton and South Elmsall |
Having
achieved my primary objective of assessing the Geotourism potential of South Elmsall Quarry, I set off on my return journey back to Treeton.
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| All Saints Church |
On
my walk to South Elmsall from Moorthorpe railway station, I had already stopped
to look at various architectural details and public art and so I just walk backed
down the escarpment – where I talked to a postman who was sitting on a stone wall -
and took a bus back to South Kirkby, to have a quick look at All Saints Church
before catching the train back to Rotherham.
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| A detail of All Saints Church |
Unlike
South Elmsall, whose development has been intimately tied to the rise and fall
of the coal mining industry in Yorkshire, the history of South Kirkby goes back
much further
and, like in so many villages, the old church provides an excellent opportunity
to look at the local building stone.
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| The tower at All Saints Church |
South Kirkby is set on sandstone, which is described by the British Geological Survey as being part of the Pennine Upper Coal Measures Formation, but All Saints Church is essentially built from Permian limestone. The various colours and textures of the stones, together with their weathering characteristics, show a very interesting history of construction, rebuilding and restoration – both geologists and standing buildings archaeologists would appreciate this place.
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| A sculpture in limestone |
Walking
around the village, the topography makes you stretch your legs and there are
many other interesting geology related things to see, including a glacial erratic from the English Lake District...
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| A glacial erratic |
