A Further Exploration of Handsworth

A detail of iron nodules

After successfully finding some interesting geology in Bowden Housteads Wood, I went to investigate the area of Handsworth where the old quarries once operated, but which have long since closed and disappeared beneath a new housing development.

 

A map of Handsworth

Making my way from the south-east corner of Bowden Housteads Wood to the path that runs alongside the Sheffield Parkway to Waverley Lane, I arrived at the area of open grassland from which I could see the Treeton Rock and Mexborough Rock on the skyline.

A distant view of the Treeton Rock and Mexborough Rock

Here, I joined the path to the east side of the new housing estate and I was very curious about the very steep slope here, which is much steeper than any others that I had encountered when exploring the area around Handsworth Community Park a few weeks earlier.

 

A view along an unexpectedly steep slope

Looking at the geological map of the area, this path runs parallel to the ridge of sandstone that the Handsworth Quarries exploited for the distinctive ‘ginger nut’ hued stone used for the majority of historic buildings in Handsworth; however, the dip of this sandstone is measured at 10 degrees to the north-west which, although quite steep, does not explain the topography encountered here.

 

A map showing the old quarries and spoil heap

Also, on the various old Ordnance Survey maps at my disposal, although the various embankments, tips, areas of made ground relating to the quarry and colliery sites – including an old tramway - are clearly marked, none of these account for the slope either.

 

An old Ordnance Survey map and a LIDAR image

Having never seen the old quarries or the landscape around this part of Handsworth before the modern housing estate was built, I have no first hand knowledge of how the landscape has been affected by development but, using LIDAR and aerial photos where available, it makes a fascinating ‘geoarchaeological’ investigation.

 

The spoil heap from Handsworth Colliery

Further along the path, the old spoil heap of Handsworth Colliery can be seen from Treeton and, although now wooded, the red shale – as also seen at the Waverley Estate and Edwards Meteor Way - is clearly visible, especially where it has been worn away by bike riders.

 

Sandstone blocks used for landscaping

At the end of the path, I came across a couple of large blocks of sandstone that have been used as part of the landscaping for the new housing estate and, as I have described in my post about the Advanced Manufacturing Park, in the absence of rock exposures they provide useful information about the local geology.

 

 An ironstone nodule

In this instance, one of the blocks contains fine examples of iron nodules, where the iron oxides are concentrated to form layers of dense haematite that is extremely resistant to weathering.

 

A long line of painted rocks

 

Carrying on up into the new estate, only to be informed that there was no shortcut to the ASDA supermarket, I came across a large selection of painted pebbles at the side of the path. Rock painting and rock hunts have been a craze with young children in recent years, which makes me shake my head, and these have obviously been popular here.

 

A selection of painted rocks

The science of geology is no longer given prominence in museums and at all levels of education in the UK, which makes me appreciate that when I developed a fascination for rocks, minerals and fossils at an early age, my parents would frequently take me to the Geological Museum, where seemingly endless rows of cabinets were crammed full of beautiful specimens.

 

A road sign

To finish off a good walk, after passing the Quarry Road street sign, which is now the only reminder of a once important industry in Handsworth, I headed off to ASDA down Halesworth Road and passed many terraced houses built with this attractive stone along the way.

 

Various terraced houses