Humberside Geologist no 5
published 1986
Notwithstanding somewhat unpropitious weather a fair number of our members proceded by afternoon train to explore the cliff section north of Bridlington. Mr G.W.Lamplugh whose valuable researches in the boulder clay of Yorkshire, are so well known, met the party at Bridlington Railway. Station, and at once led the way to the coast. Descending to the beach just N. of the new promenade Mr L. pointed out a section in the cliff which shewed the purple & basement clay in situ. In the last name[d] division of this occured those transported masses of sand and clay full of mollusca known to Geologists as Bridlington Crag. Mr Lamplugh also directed attention to those beds of gravel & lamminated clay which rest upon the purple clay, most particularly in the beds towards Sewerby and known as the Sewerby Gravels.
Proceeding N. to the point about a mile (1/2) from Bridlington where the ancient chalk cliff runs inland, Mr L. explained how previous to the Great Ice Age the sea covered Holderness, and that the line of coast was then in the direction of, Burton Agnes, Crack [?] Hill & Hessle. At this point also, where the chalk first appears a most interesting section was exposed at the time of our Societies visit. In explaining its Geological importance Mr Lamplugh said that some years ago it was reported to him that some time before a fisherman had found an elephants tusk in a bed of soft sand in the cliff near Sewerby. He examined the cliff but could find no trace of any bed like that described. In the winter of 1883-84 the sea washed away some of the slipped clay ( which usually covers the face of the cliff ) and several bones were seen sticking in the cliff. These bones were extracted by Mr J.M.Mortimer & proved to be not a whole skeleton as was at first assumed, but isolated and disconnected, & belonging not to an elephant but to Bos, a bison. A few months later Mr C Reid who was working on the Holderness drifts at the time visited the section, and finding it of importance had a cutting made, of which he gives a sketch & description in his memoir of Holderness. Further acting on the suggestion of Mr Reid in the spring of 1887 the Yorkshire Geological Society granted a sum of £10 towards the expenses of a more extended excavation. This was proceeded with and at the time of our visit an instructive section was still to be seen. A large quantity of mammalian and other remains were found, and are now to be seen in the Museum of Philosophical Society at York. A full account of this section appears in the Proceedings of the Yorks. Geological Society. Mr Lamplugh regards this bone bed a preglacial not interglacial as suggested in Mr Reid's memoir.
Leaving the bone bed the party passed under the fine cliffs of the upper chalk exhibiting in some places fine examples of contortion, probably the result of lateral pressure. Here the hammers of the members were brought into vigorous use. Here the chalk is famous for its fossil sponges and the hammers of the members were soon vigorously at work, many fine specimens being extracted. Towards Danes Dyke the zone of Marsupites Ornatus was pointed out by Mr Lamplugh & some good specimens were obtained.
Arrangements had been made on behalf of the Field Nat. to visit the grounds of Mrs Downes [?] at Danes Dykes but notwithstanding the repeated exhortations of more advanced members of the party the Geologists would not budge from their fossil hunt on the shore, till too late for further exploration. On the return to Bridlington Mr Lamplugh shewed the members his private collection of specimens. Those from Speeton being specially fine. Before leaving a hearty vote of thanks was given to Mr L for his kindness in conducting the party.
* This visit to Bridlington was the second field meeting of the Hull Geological Society. The original manuscript is in the Society's archives [now in Hull Museums].
copyright Hull Geological Society 2021