The Flamborough Quaternary Research Group

The idea for the research project came from  a field meeting of the University of Hull's Centre for Lifelong Learning led by Mike Horne on 2nd March 2002. Realising that the quaternary geology at South Landing and Danes Dyke was quite different to the well known raised beach at Sewerby, Ian Heppenstall and Mike proposed the formation of a research group by the Hull Geological Society. They carried out some initial investigations in June 2002.  In December 2002 Mike invited HGS members interested in helping to contact him. At the Annual General Meeting in March 2003 the Society agreed to the creation of Research Groups in general under certain conditions, including that there should be no cost to Society funds. A planning meeting was held in May 2003 and formal Group research fieldwork began in June 2004.

The aims of the Group were -

To investigate the deposits between the Chalk and the Boulder Clay.

To investigate the pre-glacial geomorphology.

To record the deposits within the Boulder Clay.

To record the deposits overlying the Boulder Clay.

To publish the results in Humberside Geologist

Originally there were normally three field meetings each year to South Landing, Danes Dyke and Sewerby to log and record the exposures. At South Landing in particular slumps that had been overgrown with vegetation made it difficult to visualise the stratigraphic relationships. Later the number of visits were reduced, aiming to have a watching brief to see if there were any changes or new exposures.

By the end of 2010 work was underway to produce a report for publication the following year:-

Heppentall I, Connell R, Gobbett D, Horne M et al. 2011 (unpublished draft) . Lost and found: the pre-Skipsea Till palaeo-valley fill sediments of Flamborough Head rediscovered.

Ian Heppenstall was awarded the Felix Whitham Memorial Medal in 2015 for his work with the FQRG.

Contributors to the Flamborough Quaternary Research Project fieldwork included:- Anna Kirk-Smith, Anne Horne, Brian Kneller (and Rusty the Rockhound) , Chris Leach, Colin Clark, Dennis Haughey, Dr Derek Gobbett, Graham Kings, Ian Heppenstall, Jack Oyston, Mary Heppenstall, Mike Horne, Keith Britton, Kelly Wang, Nigel Whittington, Paul Hardy, Paul Richards, Rod Towse, Rodger Connell, Dr Sonja Boehmer-Christiansen, Stuart Jones and Terry Rockett.

We were also lucky to receive practical help from - Dr Ben Gearey (University of Birmingham), Bob Knight (University of Hull), Dr Mark Bateman (University of Sheffield). Prof John Catt also provided helpful advice and helpful discussions.

Mark Bateman collecting samples for OSL dating.

Mark Bateman has published some of the OSL dates he obtained from the Flamborough Quaternary sites -

Evans DJA, Roberts DH, Bateman MD, Clark CD, Medialdea A, Callard L, Grimoldi E, Chiverrell RC, Ely J, Dove D , Ó Cofaigh C et al (2021) Retreat dynamics of the eastern sector of the British–Irish Ice Sheet during the last glaciation. Journal of Quaternary Science. pp1-29.

Bateman MD, Evans DJA, Buckland PC, Connell ER, Friend RJ, Hartmann D, Moxon H, Fairburn WA, Panagiotakopulu E & Ashurst RA (2015) Last glacial dynamics of the Vale of York and North Sea lobes of the British and Irish Ice Sheet. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 126(6), 712-730.

General photos of the sites & fielldwork

Bridlington Quay

Sewerby

Danes Dyke

South Landing

Research data and drafts -

The Quaternary deposits of Flamborough Head (PDF) by derek Gobbett

Thornwick Bay fieldwork data and reports

South Landing fieldwork data and  reports

Danes Dyke fieldwork data and reports

Sewerby fieldwork data and reports

Bridlington Quay fieldwork data and reports

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