Natural England - 30. Southern Magnesian Limestone

30. Southern Magnesian Limestone

The key characteristics of the Southern Magnesian Limestone are:

  • Elevated ridge with smoothly rolling landform, dissected by dry valleys. 

  • Predominantly Magnesian Limestone geology which influences soils and ecological character. 

  • Long views over surrounding lowland. 

  • Fertile intensively farmed arable land. 

  • Large fields bounded by low cut thorn hedges creating a generally large scale, open landscape. 

  • Large number of country houses and estates with parkland, estate woodlands, plantations and game coverts. 

  • Woodlands combining with open arable land to create a wooded farmland landscape in some parts. 

  • Unifying influence of creamy white Magnesian Limestone as a building material often combined with red clay pantile roofing. 

  • River valleys and gorges cutting through the ridge exposing the underlying rock. 

  • Industrial influences, especially in the Aire and Don Valleys and other central valleys and along the coal measures fringe, with mines, shale tips, transport routes, power lines and industrial settlements. 

  • Main transport corridor of the A1 which is often apparent in areas of otherwise undisturbed rural landscape. 

  • Archaeological remains reflecting the long standing importance of the area for the settlement and transport.

For further details on this character area and for an introduction to the region, please see the PDF documents in the box at the top right hand side of this page.

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