THE GLACIATION OF NORTH CLEVELAND

Abstract

INTRODUCTION This paper records the glaciation of an area which includes the lower Tees Basin and the northern Cleveland Hills and extends from Saltburn in the east to Yarm in the west, and from Greatham in the north to Stokesley in the south. The greater part of this area lies in North Cleveland. The upland portion of the area, the north-west extremity of the Cleveland Hills, attains a height of over 1000 ft. on Guisborough Moor. The outlying portions of this Jurassic plateau, Eston Hill, Upleatham Hill and Airy Hill reach heights respectively of 800 ft., 585 ft. and 639 ft. O.D. Each of these features together with the main plateau region consists of Liassic shales capped by massive Estuarine sandstones. Where they have not been protected by a covering of glacial drift the shales have weathered easily to form steep northerly slopes which have not been favourable for the retention of glacial drainage phenomena. Glacial drift exists on the slopes of these Cleveland Hills to varying heights. It has been traced along the south side of Roseberry Topping at 800 ft. O.D., on Bousdale Head at 700 ft. O.D., and on Eston Hill at 600 ft. O.D. Isolated drift pebbles have been found near the Nab on Eston Moor at 800 ft. O.D., and within 40 ft. of the summit of Roseberry Topping at about 1020 ft. There is little doubt, therefore, that invading ice stood up to about 1000 ft. O.D., but that subsequent denudation has removed practically ...