High Rocks
Encyclopedia
High Rocks is a 3.2 hectare (7.9 acre) geological Site of Special Scientific Interest
3 km (1.9 mi) west of Tunbridge Wells in East Sussex
, England
. The site was notified in 1986 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
, and is an important geomorphological site for sandstone weathering features.
uncovered hardened silt deposited when the area was part of the Wealden Lake
. There are traces of Middle Stone Age
and Iron Age
residents, including a 1st-century A.D. fort guarding against the Roman invasion.
visited Tunbridge Wells and made the woodland a resort in the 17th century, The Rocks became a tourist attraction with a maze, a bowling green, gambling rooms and cold baths. The Aerial Walk, a series of bridges linking the tops of the crags was built in the 19th century.
A Halt served by the local railway was established in 1907, open until 1952. The Spa Valley Railway
, a heritage railway
now connects the High Rocks pub beyond the High Rocks turnstiles to Tunbridge Wells, Groombridge
and Eridge
(on the London-Uckfield
line of Southern Railway
).
and other members of the public. It is also frequently used for wedding receptions. Footpaths lead around the rocks, and it is possible to walk across the top of crags on footbridges. The main area is fenced in and there is an entrance fee (£3 adults, £2 children & £10 for climbers Feb 2010 [£2,£1 & £5 in Aug'09]) to enter the site, payable to the High Rocks pub and restaurant opposite.
An unfenced and free access section of the ridge of rock outcrops can be reached by following the footpath west of the pub, next to the railway line.
weathering
features
developed on the highest cliffs in the Weald
. The Ardingly Sandstone has suffered gentle deformation and
joints have opened out to form spectacular gulls (tension cracks) which are wide enough in places for a person to enter.
Open gulls are comparatively rare in Britain, except in the central Weald, and they are nowhere better
displayed than in the great extent of open passages at High Rocks. The Ardingly
Sandstone is friable and poorly cemented, but the surface develops a protective crust
and displays a variety of micro-weathering features, notably honeycombing and
polygonal cracking. The origin of this cracking is problematic but may relate to
freezing and thawing under periglacial conditions during the Pleistocene
. It is found in
Britain only on the sandstone outcrops in the central Weald, and is nowhere better
displayed than at High Rocks.
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
3 km (1.9 mi) west of Tunbridge Wells in East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The site was notified in 1986 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom and was implemented to comply with the Directive 2009/147/EC on the conservation of wild birds...
, and is an important geomorphological site for sandstone weathering features.
Prehistory
The location was formed when the retreating ice sheet at the end of the last ice ageIce age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
uncovered hardened silt deposited when the area was part of the Wealden Lake
Wealden Lake
Wealden Lake was a freshwater lake which existed over the lands now considered to be northern France and southern England during the early Cretaceous...
. There are traces of Middle Stone Age
Middle Stone Age
The Middle Stone Age was a period of African Prehistory between Early Stone Age and Late Stone Age. It is generally considered to have begun around 280,000 years ago and ended around 50-25,000 years ago. The beginnings of particular MSA stone tools have their origins as far back as 550-500,000...
and Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
residents, including a 1st-century A.D. fort guarding against the Roman invasion.
Recent history
After King James IIJames II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
visited Tunbridge Wells and made the woodland a resort in the 17th century, The Rocks became a tourist attraction with a maze, a bowling green, gambling rooms and cold baths. The Aerial Walk, a series of bridges linking the tops of the crags was built in the 19th century.
A Halt served by the local railway was established in 1907, open until 1952. The Spa Valley Railway
Spa Valley Railway
The Spa Valley Railway is a standard gauge heritage railway that runs between Tunbridge Wells, High Rocks, Groombridge, and Eridge railway station, where it links with the Oxted Line. En route it crosses the Kent and East Sussex border, a distance of 5 miles , along the former Three Bridges to...
, a heritage railway
Heritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
now connects the High Rocks pub beyond the High Rocks turnstiles to Tunbridge Wells, Groombridge
Groombridge
thumb|right|A house in GroombridgeGroombridge is a village of about 1,600 people. It straddles the border between Kent and East Sussex, in England. The nearest large town is Tunbridge Wells, about away by road....
and Eridge
Eridge railway station
Eridge railway station serves a rural district around Eridge in East Sussex. Mainline train services from the station are provided by Southern, and the station is on the Uckfield branch of the Oxted Line. Also heritage services connecting to Groombridge, High Rocks and Tunbridge Wells West are run...
(on the London-Uckfield
Oxted Line
The Oxted Line is a railway line in southern England. It was originally operated jointly by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway and the South Eastern Railway. It is now part of the Southern franchise....
line of Southern Railway
Southern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
).
Current use
The crags are visited by rock climbersClimbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
and other members of the public. It is also frequently used for wedding receptions. Footpaths lead around the rocks, and it is possible to walk across the top of crags on footbridges. The main area is fenced in and there is an entrance fee (£3 adults, £2 children & £10 for climbers Feb 2010 [£2,£1 & £5 in Aug'09]) to enter the site, payable to the High Rocks pub and restaurant opposite.
An unfenced and free access section of the ridge of rock outcrops can be reached by following the footpath west of the pub, next to the railway line.
Geology and Geomorphology
High Rocks is a key geomorphological site for sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
weathering
Weathering
Weathering is the breaking down of rocks, soils and minerals as well as artificial materials through contact with the Earth's atmosphere, biota and waters...
features
developed on the highest cliffs in the Weald
Weald
The Weald is the name given to an area in South East England situated between the parallel chalk escarpments of the North and the South Downs. It should be regarded as three separate parts: the sandstone "High Weald" in the centre; the clay "Low Weald" periphery; and the Greensand Ridge which...
. The Ardingly Sandstone has suffered gentle deformation and
joints have opened out to form spectacular gulls (tension cracks) which are wide enough in places for a person to enter.
Open gulls are comparatively rare in Britain, except in the central Weald, and they are nowhere better
displayed than in the great extent of open passages at High Rocks. The Ardingly
Sandstone is friable and poorly cemented, but the surface develops a protective crust
and displays a variety of micro-weathering features, notably honeycombing and
polygonal cracking. The origin of this cracking is problematic but may relate to
freezing and thawing under periglacial conditions during the Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
. It is found in
Britain only on the sandstone outcrops in the central Weald, and is nowhere better
displayed than at High Rocks.