The Geology of Wales

The geology of Wales

During my investigation of the “Rotherham Red” sandstone mediaeval churches along the No. 74 bus route from Treeton to Harthill, All Saints church in Aston was next on my list; however, with no access available outside formal services, a change of bus to the X5 soon took me to Wales, which is set on an outcrop of sandstone that is described on the geological map as forming part of the Pennine Middle Coal Measures Formation.

A view west towards Sheffield

This outcrop forms part of a cyclical succession of thin sandstones and shales, with once important seams of coal, that lies between the Mansfield Marine Band and the Mexborough Rock, and which form scarp-and-vale topography that gives most of Rotherham its character. 

A view of the Rotherham Red sandstone to the north

In Treeton, the sandstone was once known as Treeton Rock and forms an escarpment that overlooks the River Rother – together with a few other smaller distinctive landforms – but the landscape is much softer in Wales.

Getting off the bus on the outskirts of the village, on a bright and sunny day, views of the Millstone Grit moors on the edge of the Peak District National Park - which rise to the west of Sheffield - can be clearly seen.

Walking towards the centre of the old village of Wales, the first building stones that can be seen are from the Magnesian Limestone - to build a school and for the dressings of a Methodist church and a couple of houses of similar age. One house, dated 1987, uses both Rotherham Red sandstone and another indeterminate Carboniferous sandstone but, arriving at the centre of the old village, a handful of old agricultural buildings are again built of Magnesian Limestone.

An arch built in Magnesian Limestone 

A quick exploration of the historic buildings in the immediate area reveals that both Magnesian Limestone and Rotherham Red sandstone have been used extensively, in combination with the local sandstone that was presumably once quarried in the vicinity of Old Quarry Avenue, which now forms part of a modern housing estate.

An old agricultural building constructed in limestone and sandstone

Once I had taken a good look at the war memorial, I continued with my principal objective of the day – to investigate the construction history of the church of St. John the Baptist.

Wales War Memorial