ferryhill gap

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Aug. 6th 2011 The Ferryhill Gap. Leader: Derek Teasdale, Quaternary Geologist

        In spite of the initial atrocious weather, torrential rain, a party of 18 members, under the leadership of Derek Teasdale, met at the north east end of Ferryhill (NZ297331). With the continuing rain it was decided to assemble in the shelter of Bowburn Service station where the leader gave a detailed outline of research done on features resulting from the last ice recession. The purpose of the visit was to examine questions regarding the formation of the Ferryhill Gap, the largest glacial melt water channel in North East England, as well as exploring other landscape features related to post Dimlington Stadial ice recession in south Durham.

       With improvement of the weather, the party returned to the initial meeting place and after walking a short distance witnessed a spectacular view of the Ferryhill Gap, a huge incised valley cutting through the Magnesian Limestone escarpment south of Durham. The party then drove about ½ a km. south to look at a "dog leg" bend in the valley, possibly due to faulting.

        The gap is interpreted as having been caused by melt water escaping southwards from a proglacial lake which was impounded by retreating ice to the north, high ground to the west and the Magnesian Limestone escarpment to the east and south. The party then drove to Bishop Middleham where after a short walk the ruin of the former bishop's castle was reached. Extensive sands, gravels and lake deposits occur to the south and east of the Ferryhill Gap. At Bishop Middleham the leader pointed out a dry valley, a former melt water channel, possibly a distributive channel of meltwater from the Ferryhill Gap drainage channel which led south to another lake, yet to be named.

        The final locality visited was Mordon, about 2 km. south west of Sedgefield. Unfortunately, the atrocious weather, coupled with severe thunderstorms curtailed our visit, but this in no way detracted from a very interesting and challenging day; a fascinating introduction to the challenge of interpreting the resultant landscape due to ice progression and recession at different points in time.

        Accompanied by lightning, thunder and torrential rain the leader was thanked for having given a very interesting and lucid account of the research he has done in this area.

(Any errors are entirely the fault of the web editor)

Derek Teasdale giving an outline of the day while taking refuge from
the pouring rain at Bowburn Service Station. (Photo: Geoff Taylor)

Some of the group preparing to descend into the Ferryhill Gap.

Looking eastward into the Ferryhill Gap, an incised valley, from NZ298332.

The far distance, just behind the telegraph pole, shows part of the west facing Magnesian Limestone escarpment which contributed to the impoundment of a lake which eventually overflowed through the Ferryhill Gap.

Looking southeasterly from the ruins of Bishop Middleham Castle looking at a dry valley, a former melt water channel which fed a lake which eventually overflowed into the Tees Valley.

Taking shelter from the pouring rain at Mordon, NZ329264
(Photo: Geoff Taylor)

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Derek Teasdale giving an outline of the day while taking refuge from the pouring rain at Bowburn Service Station. (Photo: Geoff Taylor)	Some of the group preparing to descend into the Ferryhill Gap.

Looking eastward into the Ferryhill Gap, an incised valley, from NZ298332.	The far distance, just behind the telegraph pole, shows part of the west facing Magnesian Limestone escarpment which contributed to the impoundment of a lake which eventually overflowed through the Ferryhill Gap.

Looking southeasterly from the ruins of Bishop Middleham Castle looking at a dry valley, a former melt water channel which fed a lake which eventually overflowed into the Tees Valley.	Taking shelter from the pouring rain at Mordon, NZ329264 (Photo: Geoff Taylor)