255 
ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS AT WOODLESFORD AND ROTHWELL HAIGH, 
NEAR LEEDS. 
BY ALBERT GiLLiGAN, M.sc. (Leeds), B.sc. (Wales), F.G.S. 
(Read in abstract on November 16th, 1911) 
Woodlesford is situated about six miles south-east of Leeds, and 
is built chiefly upon the south side of the River Aire on a slope of Coal 
Measure shale with the Thornhill Rock forming the high ground. 
Immediately to the south-east of the town, the valley of the Aire opens 
out considerably, and, stretching as far as Methley Grange — a distance 
of three miles — and occupying all the low ground at the junction of 
the Aire and Calder is found the alluvial deposit. The area covered 
by the alluvium is about two and a half to three square miles. It is 
marked upon the 1-inch Geological Map as chiefly Second River Terrace 
gravel, with two patches near the Aire and one near the Calder of 
First River Terrace. On the northern bank of the River Aire at this 
part, only the First River Terrace is marked, and that only as a thin 
fringe not more than half a mile and generally less than a quarter of a 
mile wide. On the south side of the Calder the Second River Terrace 
is again found, but only in small detached patches. 
Messrs. Henry Briggs, Son and Co., wishing to work the Silkstone 
and Beeston Seams in the northerly portion of their area, decided to 
sink new shafts somewhere between Spencer Pit at Newmarket (a 
little south of Rothwell) and Woodlesford. There were several projects, 
but a consideration of railway and canal facilities, trade with Leeds 
and with shipping centres, such as Hull and Goole, pointed to a site 
near Woodlesford as being the most desirable. The next business was 
to examine thoroughly the country around Woodlesford from a mining 
engineer's point of view in order to settle on a definite site for the 
new colliery. This involved a consideration of the country with 
regard to the following points : — 
(a) Topography and surface contours. This is necessary because 
the expected coal must be got cheaply both on to the main 
line of railway and the canal. 
B 
