Wainlode Cliff

Site of Special Scientific Interest · 51.9299, -2.2262

Condition (Natural England)

Favourable (1)
UnitFeatureConditionArea (ha)Assessed
SO845257 Favourable 1.17 2009-09-07

Geology & landscape

Rock Type: Limestone

Description

Area, 1.3 ha. 3.2 ac. Description An historic locality, first described in 1842, showing a seven metre section of Rhaetian age. The regional two fold division of Westbury and Cotham Beds is maintained here, with the correlatable 'Estheria' Bed in the latter and a basal bone bed resting non sequentially on the Tea Green Marls at the base of the shales. This is the type locality for Estheria minutabrodieana. The Insect Limestone, a productive source of insects, defines the base of the Lias in the section.