Blackhorse Quarry
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Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TQ768142 | — | Unfavourable Declining | 0.21 | 2022-03-30 |
Climate exposure
This is about exposure to a nationwide pressure this habitat type carries — not a verdict on this site's own management.
Coastal habitats are exposed to sea-level rise and storm erosion. Where hard sea defences sit behind them, there's nowhere landward to retreat to — a squeeze that keeps compressing the habitat no matter how well it's managed.
Geology & landscape
Mining / Industrial: Quarry · Rock Type: Conglomerate, Sandstone
Landscape processes: Coastal
Description
Description Vertebrate Palaeontological interest Blackhorse Quarry is the type locality for the Wadhurst Clay Telham Bond Bed. The bond bed is a conglomerate of polished pebbles, fish scales, coprolites, bones, teeth and scutes. The reptiles recorded include turtles, crocodiles Goniopholis, pterosaurs Ornithocheirus and dinosaurs Megalosaurus, Cetiosaurus, Iguanodon Hylaeosaurus. This site has yielded large numbers of specimens in the past and it has excellent potential for further finds. Wealden interest The Telham Pebble Bone Bed yielded a wealth of vertebrate remains during the mid 19th century from the 'Black Horse' quarry on Telham Hill. This classic site has potential for the study of this rock and its faunas. The vertebrate material comprised fish, coprolites and a wide variety of reptiles. Being equivalent to the Cliff End Pebble Bed, this is a prime prospect for early mammals. Inorganic debris includes extra basinal pebbles. The underlying Cliff End Sandstone Member here is calcareous 'Tilgate Stone' facies and probably only the proximal pro fan delta facies is developed. It also deserves detailed investigation. The sequence lies in the Lower Wadhurst Clay Formation Hastings Beds Group, above the marker horizons of the Brede Soil Bed and Top Ashdown Pebble Bed.