Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

Carboniferous Geology of Roundhay Park, Leeds

Wednesday 14th October 2026  10.30 to 16.00

Led by Ru Smith, Vice President of Yorkshire Geological Society

Time travel to the tropical world of 320 million years ago, finding evidence for seas filled with goniatites, coastal lagoons with freshwater mussels and England’s oldest coelacanth, and a vast coarse-grained delta developed to the south of a Himalayan-scale mountain range to the north. The Carboniferous rocks of the park are deformed by faults, folds and joints and we’ll attempt to reconstruct ancient tectonic stress fields from the time of assembly of Pangea and later extension. We’ll cross the major northern boundary fault providing a northern limit to the Yorkshire Coalfield and discuss the use of building stone quarried in the park. 3D models (from LiDAR and photogrammetry) will be used to discuss the geology throughout.

Meet at Roundhay Park Mansion House, Mansion Lane, Roundhay, Leeds LS8 2HH, 10:30 am. Total length of walk 4.8 km/3 miles, all on park paths with locally steeper inclines. Paths can be muddy if rainy, so select footwear accordingly. Bring packed lunch. If travelling by train and bus, walk (~7 minutes) from Leeds train station to Corn Exchange and number 12 bus stop diagonally opposite Leeds market. Ride time to Roundhay Park stop is ~ 22 minutes. Car parking is available along Mansion Lane or at Soldiers Fields car park (now pay and display).

Maximum party size 15

To Book: Please send the details requested on the booking form – Visit to Roundhay Park by email to ypsgeology@gmail.com

or return the booking form to Paul Thornley c/o the YPS Lodge. Cost is £5 payable in cash on the day.

Note that YPS Activities booking terms and conditions will apply and can be seen at the Lodge or online: YPS Booking Terms & Conditions