RUBERY CUTTING AND HILL

Rubery Hill and Cutting (National Grid Reference SO 999 778 and SO 993 775 respectively) form a very significant set of exposures which link closely with those of the Lickey Hills Country Park 1 km to the south and form prominent landmarks along the main road between Junction 4 of the M5 and Longbridge.  The geology of these exposures is as sketched below and comprises. These abandoned quarries have many excellent rockfaces of high scientific, educational and aesthetic value. Features that can be seen here include;

•  Both strike and dip sections of the Lickey Quartzite (of Cambrian Age circa 550 million years) and cross bedded quartz sandstones and overlying pebbly sandstones and shales of the Rubery Formation (of lower Silurian Age circa 430 million years).

• A very distinct vertical dyke of crystalline igneous rock with chilled margins cutting through the Rubery Sandstones.

• Weathering features including a full soil profile from turf to solid rock.  The upper surface of the quartzites here have fissures in which sediments from the overlying Rubery Formation reside implying that these fissures were present in hard quartz rocks forming a sea shore which was present before the ancient sea swept in and deposited sediments across them.

• A very clear unconformity of many millions of years is represented by an obvious eroded upper surface of the quartz sandstones on which marine shales and sandstones of the Silurian (Llandovery Series) rest unconformably.  Some shelly fossils can be found here and there is much evidence of bioturbation of the sedimentary rocks by burrowing organisms when they composed the seabed of that ancient ocean.

•  From Rubery hill the topography of the surrounding area from the Birmingham plateau to the east to the imposing hills of the Lickey area can be studied and the relationships of the different quarries at the site itself can be seen. 

This site is particularly important in terms of the interpretation of the sedimentary and volcanic history of the region  from the Cambrian to the early Silurian periods. It is of particular value when considered together with exposures in the Lickey Hills country park. 

All of the geological features and the human history of stone extraction conspire to make this a particularly important geological, easily accessible site.  Access is controlled to the main quarry face to the rear of the shops and gardens which are adjacent to Leach Green Road and much vegetation has grown along the path adjacent to these exposures. Proposals for some clearance, footpath improvements better fencing and interpretive signage will significantly enhance the general amenity of the site.

The exposures to the south of the A38 (Leach Green Quarry) are currently best approached from the car park to the rear of the shops at Grid Ref SO 992 775 although a key is available from the Wardens at the Lickey Hills visitor centre should this access be denied.  Here damaged sections of the chain link fence currently allow access onto the public footpath immediately against the exposures in the old cliff faces.  Hard hats are essential for parties or individuals intending to study these rock faces and no attempt should be made to access the top of the faces and exposures.  The roadside cutting itself is open access at the moment from the roadside and other than in close proximity to the shops has a moderate to low slope angle which is easily accessible and should not lead to any hazard from falling rock fragments from above.  The exposures on Rubery Hill  are approached from a flight of steps leading from  Cock Hill Lane approximate Grid Reference SO  989 777.  The exposures here are open and slopes are gentle which should provide no difficulties of access or safety to the responsible and reasonably able  visitor.