Hornchurch Cutting facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
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| Area of Search | Greater London |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 0.8 hectares |
| Notification | 1988 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Hornchurch Cutting is a special place in Hornchurch, London Borough of Havering. It's an 0.8-hectare area that's important for understanding Earth's history. This site is called a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its unique geology. It's also recognized as a Geological Conservation Review site.
This area shows us what happened during the Anglian ice age, about 450,000 years ago. This was the coldest period during the Pleistocene ice ages, which lasted for millions of years. Hornchurch Cutting marks the furthest south an ice sheet reached in this part of Britain. It's known as the type site for something called Hornchurch Till. This is a type of boulder clay left behind by the massive ice sheet in the Ingrebourne Valley.
Contents
Discovering Hornchurch Cutting's Secrets
How Was This Special Place Found?
The Hornchurch Cutting site was first found in 1892. A geologist named T. V. Holmes discovered it while workers were building the Romford to Upminster railway line. He noticed a thick layer of boulder clay, about five metres deep, covered by sand and gravel.
What Did Scientists Find Later?
In 1983, another excavation took place at the site. During this dig, scientists found many Jurassic fossils and rocks. These rocks and fossils had been carried all the way from the Midlands by the ancient ice sheet. It was an exciting discovery that helped us learn more about the ice age!
Why Hornchurch Cutting is Important
This site is super important for understanding the history of ice ages in southern Britain. It helps scientists figure out the layers of rock and soil left by glaciers. This is called glacial stratigraphy. Hornchurch Cutting even appeared briefly on the Channel 4 TV show Birth of Britain in 2011. The show was presented by Tony Robinson.
Where is Hornchurch Cutting?
You can find Hornchurch Cutting between Woodhall Crescent to the north and St Andrews Park and Maywin Drive to the south.
