Sewerby Cliffs and Foreshore

Leader: Paul Hildreth

The foreshore at Sewerby is accessed by a series of steps from the cliff top, a short walk from a large Pay-and-Display car park.  We shall begin on a falling tide and examine the stratigraphy in the chalk cliffs which comprise the Flamborough Chalk Formation capped by Quaternary tills and gravels. 

At the most westerly point we can examine the site of Sewerby Buried Cliff, first discovered by Clement Reid in 1884 and excavated by Lamplugh.  This marks the end of Flamborough Head and the start of Holderness as the pre-glacial chalk cliff continues westwards, inland hidden beneath its cover of drift.

Between the buried cliff and Sewerby Rocks there will be numerous glacial erratics, many of them exotic, which will undoubtedly promote discussion and we will be keeping an eye open for evidence of sponge fossils in the ledges of the wave-cut platform.  Our aim will be to locate the position of the Flamborough Sponge Bed (Upper Cretaceous, Flamborough Chalk Formation), several metres of sponge-rich chalk and marl interbeds containing a good range of often well-preserved, three-dimensional specimens.

The foreshore at Sewerby is in a protected ‘no take’ zone as well as the Flamborough Head SSSI so please be aware of, and heed, the conditions that are associated with visiting this stretch of the coast.  Stout footwear is essential as conditions underfoot will vary between sand, cobbles and boulders and slippery, algae-covered rock ledges.  Hard hats should be used when examining cliff sections.  Hammering of in situ material is prohibited.

Places are limited to YGS members only. Further details and joining instructions are available on registration.

Register by email to president@yorksgeolsoc.org.uk . Please include the name of the field trip you wish to attend, and your full name and telephone contact number (preferably mobile). It would be helpful to include your YGS membership number (if you know it).