The BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units — Result Details

Briton's Lane Formation

Computer Code: BRLA Preferred Map Code: notEntered
Status Code: Full
Age range: Pleistocene Epoch (QP) — Pleistocene Epoch (QP)
Lithological Description: The Briton's Lane Formation consists of several coarse-grained sand and gravel outwash lithofacies that truncate and drape pre-existing sediments in the Cromer and Mundesley districts. No in-situ till deposits have been identified to date, but thrust slabs of till have been recognised at several localities.
Definition of Lower Boundary: The lower boundary of the formation is erosional, and sands and gravels truncate earlier deposits of the Sheringham Cliffs Formation.
Definition of Upper Boundary: The Briton's Lane Formation forms the uppermost stratigraphical units in northern Norfolk. However, sporadic palaeosols can be observed within the upper part of the deposit such as at Briton's Lane.
Thickness: Maximum thickness of the formation is estimated to be in the region of 50m.
Geographical Limits: The Briton's Lane Formation crops-out across much of northern Norfolk, from Trimingham in the east to Edgefield and Holt in central north Norfolk.
Parent Unit: Albion Glacigenic Group (ALBI)
Previous Name(s): Overstrand Formation [Obsolete Name And Code: See BRLA] (OVSD)
Cromer Till [Obsolete Name And Code: See Revision Note] (CMT)
Alternative Name(s): none recorded or not applicable
Stratotypes:
Partial Type Section  The stratotype for the Briton's Lane Formation is Briton's Lane Quarry at Beeston Regis near Sheringham in north Norfolk. At this site, up to 40m of outwash sand and gravel can be observed. Large erratics of both British and Scandinavian outwash have been recorded. It should be noted however that all of the lithofacies of this formation cannot be seen in superposition in any one section. Lee et al., 2004; Moorlock et al., 2000; Pawley et al,, 2005. 
Reference(s):
Lee, J R, Booth, S J, Hamblin, R J O, Jarrow, A M, Kessler, H, Moorlock, B S P, Morigi, A N, Palmer, A, Riding, J B and Rose, J. 2004. A new stratigraphy for the glacial deposits around Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth, North Walsingham and Cromer, East Anglia, UK. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Norfolk, Vol.53, 3-60. 
McMillan, A A, Hamblin, R J O, and Merritt, J W. 2011. A lithostratigraphical framework for onshore Quaternary and Neogene (Tertiary) superficial deposits of Great Britain and the Isle of Man. British Geological Survey Research Report, RR/10/03. 343pp. 
Moorlock, B S P, Booth, S J, Fish, P, Hamblin, R J O, Kessler, H, Riding, J B, and Rose, J. 2000. Briton's Lane Gravel Pit, Beeston Regis (TG 1684150). 115-118 in Lewis, S G, Whiteman, C A and Preece, R C (editors). The Quaternary of Norfolk and Suffolk. [London: Quaternary Research Association.] 
Pawley, S M, Lee, J R, Riding, J B, Moorlock, B S P, Hamblin, R J O, Rose, J and Crofts, R G. 2005. The stratigraphy of the Briton's Lane borehole and quarry, Beeston Regis, northeast Norfolk. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Norfolk, Vol.55, 15-42. 
1:50K maps on which the lithostratigraphical unit is found, and map code used:
none recorded or not applicable