Contortions in the Chalk at Staple Nook, Flamborough Head

Abstract

The Victorian photographs reproduced in this account depict the most spectacular exposure of a localized zone of intense deformation within the generally gently dipping Chalk of the Yorkshire coast. They were published originally over a century ago to accompany the Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society for 1885, with a description by James Davis. The photographs are views south-westwards of ‘Staple Nook’, a small embayment at the south end of (the NW-SE orientated) Bempton Cliffs, about 6 km north-west along the coast from Flamborough Head. This zone of intense deformation was recorded by the early workers in this area and was described by the local names: Davis (1885) called it ‘Staple Nook’ (also written as ‘Newk’), whereas Phillips (1829) and Lamplugh (1895) referred to it as ‘Old Dor’ (also written as ‘Door’ and ‘Dore’), although this is strictly the broad arch of rocks at its south-eastern end. The Ordnance Survey use the formal name ‘Scale Nab’ for the promontory at its north-eastern end. The section is only accessible from the sea (and then only with great difficulty and skilled, local help), but its general features can be viewed from the ships providing short tourist cruises from Bridlington. It is particularly spectacular because of its exposure in 80 m high cliffs and because of the restriction of intense east – west folding to a section 200 m long, bounded to the north-west and south-east by beds dipping constantly at around 10–15° S. The rocks belong to the Welton Chalk Formation (Upper ...