The site we know as Thorner Quarry on Church Hill in Thorner, West Yorkshire,

 is set into a sandstone outcrop which was known as Thorne Bank.

(O S Grid Ref SE381407- GPS W001⁰25’22.2” N53⁰51’38.0”)

Our story starts over 300 million years ago in the Permian and Carboniferous periods,with the deposit of mudstones and  sandstones that underlie Thorner. Periods of uplifting and erosion created the rock outcrop later to be known as “ Thorne Bank”, and revealed an unconformity in the strata – evidence of a missing interval in the sequence of rocks caused by erosion.

Fast forward to the first century AD, and it’s likely that the Romans built a road that set the route for what is now the

Thorner to Bramham Road, passing by the Thorne Bank. By 1832 a collection of houses had been built against the rock face, some having cellars hewn into the rock, and chimneys leaning against the rock face. The houses were condemned and demolished in the late 1940s. Traces of the houses remain with door and window lintels remaining in the boundary wall, and  cellars still visible.

For over sixty years  little was done to maintain the site other than a trimming of undergrowth overhanging the footpath., and in 2015 volunteers cleared some of the self -set shrubs and saplings .In places the boundary wall is in poor condition, and in 2014 a section was rebuilt after collapsing onto the path.

The group  believes there are aspects of the site that are worth enhancing and preserving as part of Thorner's heritage : –

GEOLOGICAL –

The site was listed as a Local Geological Site by West Yorkshire Geology Trust, and recognised by Natural England. Because of the opportunity it provides to see the underlying rocks, and the geological unconformity, it is a valuable teaching aid. The West Yorkshire Geology trust were fully supportive of our work to enhance the site, describing the idea as “nationally unique and ground-breaking”.

HISTORICAL -

The remaining signs of the houses from the site – lintels and cellars, are an unusual and curious reminder of how houses were set into the rock face. Thorner & District Historical Society were supportive of our efforts to preserve these aspects.

ECOLOGICAL –

Some site clearance might be required, but there are aspects of the flora and fauna of the site that it would be good to preserve and enhance.

APPEARANCE-

Site improvement  could  enhance the look of this important gateway to the village conservation area. We worked  closely with the landowners of the site – the Mexborough Estate *, and received  advice from Leeds City Council specialist officers dealing with

Landscape Conservation, Trees, Ecological aspects  , and Highways issues. We also discussed issues with West Yorkshire Police.

A volunteer group proposed setting up a Charity organisation  to lease the site, and obtain grants for  maintenance, wall repairs  & ecological enhancement .  Interpretation panels were prepared and installed on site .The Group worked  closely with the historic  land owners, the Mexborough Estates*  but their decision to sell  the site in 2019 put an end to these plans . 

With support from the Mexborough Estate, permission from Leeds City Council, & Thorner Parish Council , and a grant from Thorner Community  Fund 2 interpretation  panels were designed  erected on site . One covered geological aspects , with input  frorm West Yorkshire Geology Trust, the other  based on research by Thorner Historical Society. Local artist Michael Brereton painted watercolours used on the panels.

The intention was that a partnership approach between the volunteer group and the  Mexborough Estate  would maintain the appearance of the site, keeping the rock face visible and making it accessible for  occasional organised visits.

Despite there being widespread public support , and the approval from Leeds City Council Planners ,  a small group of Church Hill residents  objected  to the extent that the Mexborough Estate decided to put the site  up for sale. 

As a result ownership is now with some of the residents of Church Hill, and  their first step was to demand that the interpretation panels be removed .These are now re-sited further up Church Hill  next to the old red phone box on the  opposite side of the road. ( you may have  been linked to this website through the QR code on one of the panels).

 The interpretation panels

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During  guided tours  in July & November 2016 Bill Fraser and Gareth Martin were able to show how  sands had been deposited in tropical river deltas over 300million years ago to form rocks that  are  now known as "Rough Rock Flags".   A  short walk up Church Hill  revealed evidence of a non conformity in the strata,  an outcrop of  magnesian limestone,  and fossils of primitive life forms called " Stromatolites".

"Fascinating - I'll not look at this in the same way again"......................................" A pleasure listening  to experts bring geology to  life".........................  were just two  of the  comments overheard at the end of the visit.

The new owners  of the site have cleared  some trees  shrubs and undergrowth and  undertaken some planting  of  non- native species . Overall the site is reverting to its previous forlorn appearance - a sadly neglected aspect of Thorner's heritage at a gateway to the village.

If you wouid like more information about Thorner Quarry or other heritage features  in the village, please   e mail thornerquarry@gmail.com