The building limestones of the Upper Permian, Cadeby Formation (Magnesian Limestone) of Yorkshire

The late Permian dolomitic limestones (dolostones), which form an almost continuous outcrop from north Nottinghamshire to the Northumberland coast at Teeside, have been an important source of industrial minerals for many centuries. They have been quarried extensively for building stone, aggregate and lime for agricultural, industrial and chemical processes (see Buist & Ineson 1992) The limestones, because of their magnesium-rich carbonate mineralogy are perhaps still best known by their former geological name the (Lower) Magnesian Limestone. However, in Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire the limestones are now named, by geologists, the Cadeby Formation (Smith et al. 1986; Figure 1). Along much of its length, the outcrop is pock-marked by small quarries and lime pits, many now disused and some infilled with waste. Currently there are three quarries producing building stone from the formation in Yorkshire, namely Highmoor, Hazel Lane and Cadeby quarries (Map 1). Many of the most famous quarries of the Tadcaster (Thevesdale) area Smaw’s, Jackdaw Crag, Terry Lug, Hazelwood etc have long ceased operations (Figure 1 ). The Cadeby limestones, which show subtle colour variations from white to pale yellow, have been used widely over the last millenium to construct some of our most famous historic buildings. The best known examples are the cathedral churches of York, Beverley and Southwell, the castles at Conisborough and Pontefract; the abbeys of Selby, Thornton, Welbeck, and Roche and more recently the Houses of Parliament (1839-52). In addition the stone has been extensively used in many towns and villages along the outcrop for the construction of parish churches, local housing (as around Doncaster, Selby, Tadcaster and Wetherby,) and ‘stately’ homes (such as Huddleston Hall, Monk Fryston, Bolsover Castle, & Studeley Park). In addition to the Cadeby Formation, there is a thinner less well known limestone in the Permian sequence. This is the Brotherton Formation, which was formerly called the Upper Magnesian Limestone. It is pale grey to pale yellow colour, generally more compact and slightly porcellanous in nature. However, it generally only forms thin and very thin beds rendering it unsuitable for dimension stone. Locally it is used for walling and buildings along the outcrop, especially around Brotherton where it is currently worked for lime and building stone.