Hampen Railway Cutting

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.8834, -1.9075

Condition (Natural England)

Unfavourable Declining (2)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SP060203 Unfavourable Declining 3.64 2022-04-25
SP064205 Unfavourable Declining 3.64 2022-04-25

Geology & landscape

Geological Period: Jurassic · Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Area, 3.9 ha. 9.6 ac. Description This locality is one of the best exposures of the Hampen Marly Formation of the Middle Jurassic and is designated as the standard reference section type locality for this unit. The exposures in the cutting show the complete section from the top of the Lower Fuller’s Earth Clay up to the middle of the White Limestone Formation. During the Middle Jurassic the Cotswolds area was occupied by a shallow 'shelf' sea, deepening eastwards into a basin occupying central southern England. This locality is critical in interpreting the Middle Jurassic succession in north east Gloucestershire and understanding the variations in rocks of this age between the Cotswolds 'shelf' and the deeper basin of the Wessex area.