Shore spring, Silverdale

[Martin Laverty]

"I have since heard that some thirty or forty years ago this cave was rather noted. and the girls at the Tower farm often used to show strangers to the place" - from Chapter V "A cave-exploring episode", of "All Round Arnside" by J.A.Banes. Published in 1903, but republished in 2014 by the late Melville Thomson from a copy I had found in a second-hand bookshop in Cardiff. There may still be copies at the Londis shop near the chip shop near the viaduct...

 

[Lankyman]

"I have since heard that some thirty or forty years ago this cave was rather noted. and the girls at the Tower farm often used to show strangers to the place" - from Chapter V "A cave-exploring episode", of "All Round Arnside" by J.A.Banes. Published in 1903, but republished in 2014 by the late Melville Thomson from a copy I had found in a second-hand bookshop in Cardiff. There may still be copies at the Londis shop near the chip shop near the viaduct...

Thanks, Martin. I shall keep an eye out for a copy. I thought I recognised the name (Barnes) and thought you'd perhaps made a typo? This is the book but sadly the Landscape Trust are out of stock

All Round Arnside – J Anthony Barnes – Arnside & Silverdale AONB Landscape Trust Shop

shop.landscapetrust.org.uk

 

[mrodoc]

Here's a link to the Storth Geotrail which Peter Standing described in 2013. It's in the north of Arnside/Silverdale. As well as providing interesting information about the geology it offers fabulous views in places over the Kent estuary to the Lakes and Dales.

https://www.cbdc.org.uk/Geocon%20files/Leaflets/storth_geotrail%202013.pdf

Thanks for the link.

 

[mikem]

Says book is in stock this morning.

 

[Lankyman]

Says book is in stock this morning.

So it is! Odd that it was showing out of stock yesterday.

 

[jonnybellman]

I've stumbled across this thread a few times, and I've got questions about the Arnside tower risings. Pitlamp have you poked around them? If anyone has it's likely you. I was out that way Friday, and it certainly looks like a request to the farm for access, as there isn't really a viable public footpath close enough. Seems like the path that snakes through the trees isn't really there. At least a lady from the farm suggested it didn't exist anyway. I didn't say why I was interested in going that direction.

 

[Lankyman]

I've stumbled across this thread a few times, and I've got questions about the Arnside tower risings. Pitlamp have you poked around them? If anyone has it's likely you. I was out that way Friday, and it certainly looks like a request to the farm for access, as there isn't really a viable public footpath close enough. Seems like the path that snakes through the trees isn't really there. At least a lady from the farm suggested it didn't exist anyway. I didn't say why I was interested in going that direction.

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Further up the thread langcliffe posted a link to work done on various springs including the one you're interested in. From what I've read there seems to be inflow of sea water from the shore at very high tides

https://archives.bcra.org.uk/?level=image&collection=luss&document=luss3&item=76

 

[jonnybellman]

Further up the thread langcliffe posted a link to work done on various springs including the one you're interested in. From what I've read there seems to be inflow of sea water from the shore at very high tides

https://archives.bcra.org.uk/?level=image&collection=luss&document=luss3&item=76

I had a good look at that, and also the ring of wells walk that was posted. Might do that loop today just for a nosey.

Perhaps my lack of geology knowledge, but I wasn't sure if that paper was suggesting it works it's way from sea to rising overland? Or up through the limestone from underneath?

 

[Lankyman]

I had a good look at that, and also the ring of wells walk that was posted. Might do that loop today just for a nosey.

Perhaps my lack of geology knowledge, but I wasn't sure if that paper was suggesting it works it's way from sea to rising overland? Or up through the limestone from underneath?

I think it's coming through the limestone via underground channels. The farm and the tower are on a low ridge between the Knott and Middlebarrow that's about 20 - 30 asl. In wet weather I've seen the low ground east of the spring looking like a lake but I think it's fresh rather than salt water coming in from the Kent estuary.

 

[Prof. Warthog]

It is pumped through the aquifer permeability dues to tidal changes - described from elsewhere including the chalk aquifer beneath Hull. Land ownership around the Tower Risings is not simple - it is not owned by Tower Farm. I have tried to get permission to instrument the sprigs but didnt mange to get in touch with the correct people.
It looks like this year maybe when we finally get the BCRA field guide to the area published - it was written before Covid. If so I will run another BCRA field trip to the area.

 

[jonnybellman]

It is pumped through the aquifer permeability dues to tidal changes - described from elsewhere including the chalk aquifer beneath Hull. Land ownership around the Tower Risings is not simple - it is not owned by Tower Farm. I have tried to get permission to instrument the sprigs but didnt mange to get in touch with the correct people.
It looks like this year maybe when we finally get the BCRA field guide to the area published - it was written before Covid. If so I will run another BCRA field trip to the area.

If you make any progress here, and/or run a field trip, I'd be interested in coming along please

 

[jonnybellman]

@Prof. Warthog It's a few months since you mentioned a potential BCRA field guide. Did you make any progress at all? I was back home in Cumbria last weekend, and it got me thinking about this area again.

 

[Prof. Warthog]

Still work in progress - i now have more time so will hopefully get the project moving again.