Hartcliff Rocks Quarry

Hartcliff Rocks Quarry is a roughly 1.6-hectare site showing Triassic Dolomitic Conglomerate formations resting on older Carboniferous Limestone layers beneath. The exposed rock strata allow direct observation of how geological layers accumulated and changed over vast periods of time.

The quarry was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest by Natural England in 1991 to protect its geological features. This status was granted because the rock formations here hold important clues about geological changes during the Triassic period.

The quarry draws specialists who examine the rock layers to learn more about how this region's geology developed over time. Visitors can observe how different stone strata sit atop one another and what they reveal about distant geological periods.

Access to this protected site must be arranged through Natural England, the organization that manages and conserves the location. Contact them beforehand to confirm you can visit and learn about current conditions at the quarry.

The quarry exposes rock layers from a time when southern England lay beneath warm, shallow seas, which is reflected today in the limestone beds visible here. This combination of different rock types in one place makes it particularly valuable for research and study.