Description and History of Site:-
Cliff erosion in winter 2023 revealed the remains of a mine adit.

The remains of a coprolite mine a base of the Speeton clay slightly above the Kimmeridge Clay. The mines closed in 1869 following a major landslip. Evidence of the landslip can still be seen in the cliff face. The workings are briefly described by Lamplugh (1889).

The remains visible at the base of Middle Cliff in March 2023 consisted of 5 "pit props" varying in diameter from 100 to 175mm in diameter, some spaced some 500 to 600mm apart the longest exposed length of which was 920mm. All the exposed props were on the excavated side of the workings there was no evidence of roof supports on the unexcavated side of the face. The pit props are aligned almost parallel to the cliff face entering it slightly more at the northern end. In the exposed section the roof was supported by cross timbers about 300 by 100mm some of which are reused ship timbers and others rough cut half trunk sections. There is evidence of excavated shale back-filling in the working. The coprolite bed is not well developed at the exposed section with only small nodules exposed.

The cement beds are exposed further down the beach and are first exposed on the beach south of Old Beck at TA 15464 75425

Judd, J. Proc. Geol. Soc. 1868 p.250 stated:
The coastal area of Speeton provided quite a variety of economic activities in the 1860s when septaria, large nodules of stone washed out from the cliffs. They were collected from the beach and even dredged up from off-shore and "transported by coasting vessels" for use in the cement industry. Another profitable industry was mining coprolites, phosphatic nodules which lay above the clay in the Neocomian beds and which were excavated from the cliff face, just east of Rancliff Ing, three-quarters of a mile north of the village. (1" Geol. 1st Ed. XCV SE Scarborough 1881.)

When this industry started is unknown but probably in the early 1860s. Timbered adits are driven into the cliff at points below the outcrop of the cement -bed. Where they meet the bed, galleries are driven in every direction in the bed itself, the material and refuse being carried out in small wagons running on tramways which are laid down in the adits. The stone is usually conveyed by train to Hull by railway. This paper, dated 22nd January 1868, went on to describe how a bed of coprolites was exploited when a seam was exposed after a landslip.The "Coprolite bed" at Speeton was first discovered on the shore when the sand and shingle had been removed by a storm, and afterwards traced up into the cliff. It is now worked by adits but, as it only averages 5" in thickness, this expensive mode of working is found to be scarcely remunerative and is likely to be soon abandoned. About 500 tons of "coprolites" are annually exported from Speeton Cliffs. They consist of very dark-coloured, almost black stone, containing much pyrites, and mingled with worn casts of shells. Sample tolerably free of the investing clay yield from 57 - 61% of phosphates. Coprolite is fossilised "dinosaur dung" which was valued as a fertiliser. A short-lived tramway transported the minerals from the beach to Speeton Station.

Further Reading and References:-
Judd, J. Proc. Geol. Soc. 1868
Lamplugh C W, On the Subdivision of the Speeton Clay. Quarterly Journal of the Geology Society of London 1889, No 45, pp575-618
Rawson P F Wright J K, Geology of the Yorkshire Coast, Geologists Association Guide No 34, 2018

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Key Words :- Speeton coprolite mine

Viewing the Site :- On the beach

Address :- Speeton, Speeton, North Yorkshire
Grid Ref :- TA 14792 75838
Co-ordinates :- Lat 54.165516 , Long -0.243255
Local Authority :- Scarborough Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - East Riding
Site Status :- Site extant - No Protection
Site Condition :- Earthworks only
Site Dates :- c1860s -
Record Date :- 21 March 2023

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © Jane Ellis