home page   what's new?   email bobtrubs@indigogroup.co.uk to request updates (please mention the Vale of Belvoir Chronicle) or to offer new information   Vale of Belvoir Chronicle only WWW   This site sponsored by   Heart of Albion

Geology of the Vale The geology of the Vale of Belvoir consists of Triassic mudstones in the north leading into Lower Jurassic marine mudstones and limestones, which are heavily mantled by Quaternary glacial deposits. Its prominent southern escarpment, where Belvoir Castle sits, is capped by the erosion-resistant Marlstone Rock Formation. The landscape and bedrock structure are organized into a tiered, north-to-south sequence of sedimentary rocks that dip gently to the east. source Bedrock Geology Triassic (Mercia Mudstone and Penarth Group): Found at the northern fringe of the vale, these ancient red and green mudstones underlie the low-lying, gently undulating agricultural plains. Lower Jurassic (Lias Group): The bulk of the vale is formed from thick sequences of dark-grey marine shales and mudstones (including the Charmouth Mudstone and Whitby Mudstone Formations). These layers are famously fossiliferous, frequently yielding ammonites and Gryphaea (often called "Devil's toenails"). Marlstone Rock Formation: This prominent ironstone bed caps the southern ridge of the vale, creating an abrupt 100 metre (330 feet) scarp slope. This rock is significantly more resistant to erosion than the surrounding clays, protecting the ridge and providing the foundation for Belvoir Castle. Superficial (Quaternary) Deposits Much of the solid geology is hidden by deposits left during the last two million years of the Ice Age and ancient river systems. Glacial Till: Anglian-era glacial till (boulder clay) blankets much of the higher ground. River sands and gravels: The vale was historically occupied by the ancient 'Proto-Trent' and Bytham rivers, which left behind rich, terrace sand and gravel deposits. Alluvium and landslips: Modern river floodplains (like that of the River Devon) are lined with alluvium. Land-slipped ground is also common along the steeper Jurassic escarpments due to unstable mudstone. Economic Significance The interaction of mudstones and river gravels creates rich Grade 2 and Grade 3 agricultural soils. Historically extraction of gypsum and gravels was important. Ironstone extraction was of national significance between the 1870s and 1970s. Very small amounts of ironstone are currently extracted when needed for heritage building repairs. In addition the Lower Jurassic Lias mudstones are exploited for amateur and scientific fossil hunting, mostly by walking ploughed fields (with the landowners' consent). Back to top of this page     Back to home page   This website does not gather or store any visitor information. Copyright Bob Trubshaw 2025 No unauthorised copying or reproduction except if all following conditions apply: a: Copy is complete (including this copyright statement). b: No changes are made. c: No charge is made. www.hoap.co.uk/chronicle

Chronicle entries home page what's new? the geology of the Vale the boundaries and rivers of the Vale long, long ago prehistory in the Vale prehistoric boundaries in the Vale north-south prehistoric routeways Romans roads in the Vale Roman settlements in and near the Vale long ago introduction to Anglo-Saxons place-names of the Vale waterborne transport around the sixth century Orston's early church Anglo-Saxon sculpture in the Vale why Orston lost out to Bingham and Bottesford what the Normans did for the Vale Granby's importance in 1086 Granby's lost castle the Vale's watermills in 1086 Romanesque sculpture in the Vale St Remigius why Bottesford is in Leicestershire the Vale in medieval times medieval gargoyles of the Vale Eastwell's chancel screen St Ethelburga's church other early saints Elston's old chapel Muston and Long Clawson saltways of the Vale the Vale's medieval tile collection the Vale in Tudor times Dissolution in the Vale not that long ago the Vale in the C17th the 'great and the good' of the Vale Bottesford's effigies 'wicked practice and sorcerye' the whales on the Whalley memorial Car Colston's bigoted GP cum JP the Vale's very own regicide Wiverton Hall five rare C17th fonts in the Vale pinfolds and pounds in the Vale dovecotes in the Vale the Vale in the C18th turnpiking the Vale gravestones and C18th trade routes goodbye 'Belvoir Angels' C18th gravestone carvers in the Vale Daffy's Elixir the Marquess of Granby Stilton from the Vale springs and spas of the Vale outstanding organs in the Vale Grantham canal changes in the Vale's agriculture since 1800 Eastwell's recusant priest house and chapel Colston Bassett's ruined church seems like yesterday windmills in the Vale stained glass in the Vale village life in the southern Vale 1850 to 1880 folklore of the Vale Flintham museum lacemaking in the Vale gypsum pits in the Vale brick and tile works in the Vale ironstone quarrying in the Vale ironstone railways ironstone quarries of Leicestershire (YouTube video) The Vale's railway stations Orston's famous architect Mothers Union banners of the Vale redundant telephone exchanges in the Vale WWII airfields and pillboxes in the Vale the Vale in 1944 location shooting at Belvoir Castle Screveton's giants researching and writing local history the Vale as a verb getting started free advice from 2005 asking curious questions (YouTube video) local history groups in and around the Vale Aslockton (Cranmer LHG) Bingham Heritage Trails Association Bottesford Eastwell Harby Harlaxton Hickling Redmile archive Belvoir Villages History and Memories Group Belvoir Angel Society Grantham Canal Society you may also be interested in free PDFs written by Bob Trubshaw Earliest Churches in Nottinghamshire How Anglo-Saxons Found Their Way Anglo-Saxon Leicestershire Conversations in Churchyards Little-known Leicestershire and Rutland Bob Trubshaw's YouTube channel Introduction to medieval carvings Anglo-Saxon and Romanesque carvings How Anglo-Saxons found their way Anglo-Saxon shrines at fords Meetings at triangles Rota's Land and Franni's Land Reading Romanesque fonts Church and manor The significances of square headdresses Early churches and waterborne trade Charnwood slate gravestones and C18th trade routes Ironstone quarries of Leicestershire Roman roads in north-east Leicestershire Salt ways in Leicestershire Why Melton Mowbray needed to called 'middle town' Evolving Anglo-Saxon agriculture Nottinghamshire's earliest churches Ploughs not piety? Economic regeneration in the C7th Were Anglo-Saxon weaving huts women-only places? Barrowby Until Now website Rutland Village by Village website Sepulchral Effigies of Leicestershire and Rutland