(Pleasley) Railway Cutting Fissures

Location
Grid Reference SK 495638

Altitude: 160m Length: <3m

In Southernmost of two railway cuttings immediately to S and SW of Pleasley Colliery.

Description
A collection of vertical fissures in the limestone exposed by the excavation of the railway cutting when first built.

Certain of the 'fissures' are very wide 1m+ and are completely infilled with soil/loose debris. Once the railway was cut through, the soil/debris has fallen over time creating small 'scree' slopes. It is possible to track these fissures on each side of the cutting on a NNW to SSE orientation.

Some of the fissures exhibit signs of 'sickensides'. All of the limestone shows signs of heavy faulting.

Some of the fissures extend for around 10 feet into limestone, however the width rarely exceeds 15 to 18".

There are a number of small holes of <0.5m dia. Many of which show sign of animal occupation.

There is one cave of interest, about 10-12' above the railway track on the NW side of the cutting. An entrance appx. 1m high opens into a dipping chamber 2m wide by 3m long, at RH corner a shallow drop into a space may yield further extension.

At the side of a field close by (above and behind the NW face of the cutting) at 495639 a small hole (<0.25m dia) can be found. This shows signs of dipping under limestone.

Further reading is here: http://www.pleasley-colliery.org.uk/html/fissures.htm#top

And photographs are here: http://www.pleasley-colliery.org.uk/html/railway_cutting.htm#top

Access
Open access from footpath along railway cutting.

Limited parking at site of railway bridge at NGR 494636, walk up railway to NE.

References and Further Reading
Caves of Derbyshire by TD Ford and DW Gill