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Geology
The quarrying industry in Rossendale was mainly concerned with the
series of hard Millstone Grit sandstones of the area (within which are
interspersed shaley mudstones and narrow coal seams), although other
sandstones were extracted. The specific deposits relevant to the valley
of stone are as follows:
- Rough Rock – softer, coarser-grained stone with
pebbles of quartz and feldspar up to ¼ “ long. Many earlier quarries
were situated on this rock. It was more suitable for ornamental work
than the harder stones.
- Upper and Lower Haslingden Flags –
better, harder, fine-grained sandstones that formed the basis of the
nineteenth-century boom in the local industry (within these deposits,
the locally known ‘Lonkey’ stone was viewed as the best). Generally
considered too hard for ornamental work.
- Dyneley Knoll Flags of Lower Coal Measures – quarried from at least the medieval period.
(Lancaster University ‘Rossendale Quarries Lancashire Archaeological Assessment Report, Dec 97)
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