Rock Edge

Rock Edge
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Location of Rock Edge.
Area of searchOxfordshire
Grid referenceSP 549 064
Coordinates51°45′14″N 1°12′18″W / 51.754°N 1.205°W / 51.754; -1.205
InterestGeological
Area1.7 hectares (4.2 acres)
Notification date1986
Location mapMagic Map

Rock Edge is a 1.7-hectare (4.2-acre) former quarry and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. It is a Geological Conservation Review site and a Local Nature Reserve

This site exposes limestone rich in coral called Coral rag, laid down when the area was under a warm, shallow sea, similar to the Bahama Banks today. It is rich in fossils derived from the coral reefs. It dates to the Upper Jurassic, around 145 million years ago.

The site was formerly known as Crossroads Pit (or Cross Road Quarry) and has also been called Windmill Quarry since it was located just south of the main windmill in Headington.

Nature reserve

The area is also a nature reserve, Rock Edge Nature Reserve and forms a small park, surrounded by the built-in east-Oxford suburb of Headington.

Land ownership

All land within Rock Edge SSSI is owned by the local authority, Oxford City Council.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Designated Sites View: Rock Edge". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  2. ↑ "Map of Rock Edge". Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  3. ↑ "Cross Roads Quarry (Oxfordian)". Geological Conservation Review. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 26 February 2020.[permanent dead link]
  4. ↑ "Designated Sites View: Rock Edge". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  5. ↑ "Map of Rock Edge". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  6. ↑ "Rock Edge citation" (PDF). Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  7. ↑ "Windmill Quarry, Headington". Stone in Archaeology Database. University of Southampton Archaeology. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  8. ↑ "Rock Edge (Crossroads or Windmill Quarry)". Headington history: The quarries. UK: Headington, Oxford. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  9. ↑ "Cross Road Quarry, Headington". Stone in Archaeology Database. University of Southampton Archaeology. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  10. ↑ "Rock Edge Nature Reserve". Wikimapia. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  11. 1 2 "Countryside and nature reserves – Rock Edge Nature Reserve". UK: Oxford City Council. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  12. ↑ "Rock Edge Nature Reserve". UK: Daily Info. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  13. ↑ "Written questions and answers – Written questions, answers and statements". questions-statements.parliament.uk. UK: Parliament of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 31 December 2025.